San Francisco

Copied George Lopez, San Francisco, 1974, carved cottonwood and cedar, 14 3⁄8 x 7 1⁄4 x 5 1⁄2 in. (36.5 x 18.4 x 14.0 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.71

Artwork Details

Title
San Francisco
Artist
Date
1974
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
14 3⁄8 x 7 1⁄4 x 5 1⁄2 in. (36.5 x 18.4 x 14.0 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment
Mediums
Mediums Description
carved cottonwood and cedar
Classifications
Keywords
  • Animal — bird
  • Emblem — cross
  • Religion — saint — St. Francis
Object Number
1997.124.71
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1997.124.71

Artwork Description

George Lopez was influenced by Los Hermanos Penitentes (the Penitent Brothers), a group of Franciscans whose processions he watched go by his house every year during Holy Week. San Antonio de Padua is the patron of the church near Lopez’s home in Cordova, New Mexico, and San Francisco represents the founder of the Franciscan order. Lopez worked in the “Cordova” style to create these sculptures, showing details in different shades of wood instead of paint. Their humble clothing and peaceful expressions suggest that the artist believed true faith could be achieved through living a simple life.