St. Anthony of Padua and Child

ClassificationsPaintings-oils

Artist Jose de Paez (Mexican, 1720 - 1790)

Datec. 1752

Made AtMexico, Central America, North America

MediumOil on canvas

DimensionsOverall: 56 x 33 1/2 in. (142.2 x 85.1 cm)

Credit LineGift of Herman F. Locke and Rosita Yorba Locke

Object number19740

DescriptionThis painting relates to the wood sculpture of St. Anthony in the museum's collection (20786). The sculpture is currently on view in the museum's Mission and Ranchos gallery. It is possible that the sculpture and this painting were produced within the same workshop in Mexico. This painting is an oil on fabric from the Mexican Neo-Classic Period dating to the last quarter of the 18th century. It clearly shows the impact of Miguel Cabrera, whose personal style overwhelmed his time and stamped Mexican-Colonial painting from his death in 1768 through the Colonial Period. It is thought that it is an early work of Jose de Alizabar or Jose de Paez, probably the latter.

As in the wooden sculpture, the Saint in his painting is represented holding the Christ child and a lily branch. The figures appear before a sunrise-lit landscape, while a cherub in the upper left gazes toward the heavens. Worked in a rather flat colors with minimal modeling, the figures nevertheless have a weight and solidity. Contemporary scholars are only recently learning, through accumulated research that the early Mission churches of the West were often surprisingly well supplied with important statuary, painting on fabric and prints from Mexico.

The donor Rosita Yorba Locke, was the granddaughter of Tomas Yorba. She also donated the sculpture of St. Anthony mentioned above.

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