San Raphael

José Mondragón, San Raphael, ca. 1976, carved pine, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.73
José Mondragón, San Raphael, ca. 1976, carved pine, 13 1⁄2 x 5 3⁄4 x 4 3⁄4 in. (34.3 x 14.6 x 12.1 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.73

Artwork Details

Title
San Raphael
Artist
Date
ca. 1976
Location
Dimensions
13 1⁄2 x 5 3⁄4 x 4 3⁄4 in. (34.3 x 14.6 x 12.1 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 pine
Classifications
Subjects
  • Religion — angel — St. Raphael
  • Animal — fish
Object Number
1997.124.73
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1997.124.73

Artwork Description

The name Raphael means “God has healed” in Hebrew, and this sculpture shows the patron saint of doctors and nurses. José Mondragón depicted Raphael carrying a fish to represent the biblical story when the saint cured a man’s blindness with the creature’s gall bladder. He used simple shapes and very little detail to show that even the most humble of God’s creations can perform miracles.

Works by this artist (2 items)

José Mondragón, Crucifix, 1971, carved wood with leather, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.257
Crucifix
Artist
Date1971
carved wood with leather
On view
José Mondragón, San Raphael, ca. 1976, carved pine, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.73
San Raphael
Artist
Dateca. 1976
carved pine
On view

More Artworks from the Collection

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Truman Lowe, Totem for Henu (First Daughter), 1985, pine and peeled willow, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2022.9.3, © 2021, Truman Lowe Estate
Totem for Henu (First Daughter)
Artist
Date1985
pine and peeled willow
On view
Martin Puryear, Vessel, 1997-2002, Eastern white pine, mesh, tar, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Nion McEvoy and Leslie Berriman in memory of Nan Tucker McEvoy, gift of Lucy S. Rhame, and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2017.18, © 1997-2002, Martin Puryear
Vessel
Artist
Date1997-2002
Eastern white pine, mesh, tar
On view
Félix López, Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, 1998, pine and aspen wood, gesso, natural pigments and dyes, piñon sap, and gold leaf, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Smithsonian Institution Collections Acquisition Program, 1998.164A-D, © 1998, Felix Lopez
Nuestra Señora de los Dolores
Artist
Date1998
pine and aspen wood, gesso, natural pigments and dyes, piñon sap, and gold leaf
On view
Patrociño Barela, Untitled, ca. 1935-1943, carved and stained pine, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, 1985.65.10
Untitled
Artist
Dateca. 1935-1943
carved and stained pine
Not on view