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
Copied 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.