Mexico: colonial statues

 In previous posts we looked at colonial statuary from the state of Chiapas. In this post we review a selection of the statues we featured in our other guidebooks*

These are contrasting figures of St Paul, facade statues from the early monasteries of Acolman (left) and Atotonilco de Tula (r)

This remarkably realistic, sinewy figure of St Christopher bearing the Christ Child resides in the convento of Cuernavaca cathedral, formerly the Franciscan monastery'

This richly accoutered statue of John the Baptist, part of the main altarpiece in the monastic church of Xochimilco, is one of our particular favorites.

Next, this strangely elongated high relief figure of St. Dominic appears on the facade of the Dominican church at Tepoztlán.

Lastly this unusual statue of St Christopher, cut into one corner of the church of Santa Monica in Guadalajara, is known locally as El Cristobalón. Of particular interest are the sockets inset into the chests of both the saint and the Christ Child, thought to formerly containing jade or obsidian "hearts"

* Mexico's Fortress Monasteries; Blue Lakes & Silver Cities.

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