Chiapas. colonial statues

 Last year we published images of two exceptional equestrian statues in the city of San Cristobal de Las Casas.

In this post we look at a few other fine statues from the colonial period in Chiapas.

First, the painted image in the Cathedral of its patron St. Christopher. Located beside the 18th century altarpiece in the south aisle, this noble statue of the youthful saint holding the infant Jesus is particularly expressive. The saint's curling hair and beard and his pale melancholy features in the Guatemalan manner contrast with his ornate coronet and flowing brocaded robe

This venerable statue of the celebrated martyr St. Sebastian is now placed in the church of Santo Domingo, in the coastal community of Chiapa de Corzo, formerly the provincial capital.

The saint gestures dramatically, the gushing arrow wounds on his limbs contrasting with his floral skirt, worked in a rich estofado embroidery.

Lastly we focus on a statue of the early Jesuit, St Francis Borgia, one of several portraying Jesuit notables contained in the spectacular early 18th century altarpiece at Teopisca, south of San Cristóbal, and formerly located in the Jesuit church of San Agustín, also in San Cristóbal.

Set on a pedestal in a shell like niche, as with the previous two statues, the saint is wrapped in a sumptuous robe embroidered in rich estofado style.

text and drawn images © 1994 & 2024 Richard D. Perry

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