Tlaxcala: The San Antonio Acuamanala altarpiece

 In an earlier post we looked at the extraordinary ornate facade of this baroque church.

In this new post, as part of our ongoing series on Tlaxcalan retablos we describe its equally ornate main altarpiece, also framed in rich late  baroque style.

This imposing gilded retablo animates the nave with its array of canopied, prow like estípite pilasters bristling with jagged angles and encrusted niches filled with statuary.

Patron St. Anthony of Padua occupies the central lower niche while the archangel Michael stands in the niche above. Franciscan saints and other notables occupy the lateral spaces.

A most impressive colonial work of religious art for this relatively minor outpost.

Text © 2021 Richard D. Perry

color image courtesy of Niccolo Brooker

see our posts on other Tlaxcalan retablos: Amaxac; Tepeyanco; Zacatelco; San José de Tlaxcala; Santa Cruz de Tlaxcala; Apetatitlan; Tlaxco; Metepec; San Pablo del Monte;