Saint Joseph
Unknown Artist
second half 18th century
Medium
Wood, polychromed and gilded
Dimensions
H. ca. 4 in. (10.2 cm)
Classification
Crèche figure
Culture
probably Ecuadoran, Quito
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Loretta Hines Howard, 1964
Accession Number
64.164.213
Art Historical Context
This delicate wooden statue of *Saint Joseph crafted in the second half of the18th century, hails from the renowned Quito school in colonial Ecuador Standing just 4 inches tall, it exemplifies the exquisite religious sculpture produced in Quito, a hub of artistic excellence during Spanish colonial rule. Quito artisans blended European Baroque influences with indigenous techniques, creating devotional objects for homes, chapels, and processions that brought saints vividly to life. Carved from wood, the figure is richly polychromed—painted in vibrant layers of color—and adorned with gilding, wh...