Antique Spanish Colonial Carved Polychrome Wood Santo Figure

Antique religious Spanish Colonial hand carved and painted archangel santo figure. circa 1800

Hand-crafted in the late 18th/early 19th century, with later elements, depicting Saint Michael, figural bulto wood carving, with fine facial details, original polychrome paint to the figure, likely later restoration to arms and wings.

In Roman Catholic teachings, Saint Michael has four main roles or offices. His first role is the leader of the Army of God and the leader of heaven’s forces in their triumph over the powers of hell. He is viewed as the angelic model for the virtues of the “spiritual warrior”, his conflict with evil taken as “the battle within”.

The second and third roles of Michael in Catholic teachings deal with death. In his second role, he is the angel of death, carrying the souls of Christians to heaven. In this role he descends at the hour of death, and gives each soul the chance to redeem itself before passing; thus throwing the devil and his minions into consternation. Catholic prayers often refer to this role of Michael. In his third role, he weighs souls on his perfectly balanced scales.
In his fourth role, Saint Michael, the special patron of the Chosen People in the Old Testament, is also the guardian of the Church. Saint Michael was revered by the military orders of knights during the Middle Ages.

Dimensions: (approx)
9.75″ High, 5″ Wide, 3.5″ Deep;

Condition:
Good antique condition with beautifully aged warm rustic heavily worn distressed chippy paint patina. Typical folk art losses. Likely restoration to both arms and wings with later paint.