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
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.