Virgen de Monserrate

Object Details

Cachetón de Lares

Description

The lore surrounding the Virgin of Monserrat originated in the jagged mountains of Catalonia, in northeastern Spain. In 1599, when she is said to have appeared to Gerardo González, a farmer, near Hormigueros, in southwestern Puerto Rico, she acquired a new set of traditions and imagery, unique to the island. Like many Madonnas, the Virgin of Monserrat is usually shown seated on a thrown, with her son Jesus Christ on her lap and a globe in one of her outstretched hands. In this example, the globe is missing. This figure shows the unique style of its creator, El Cachetón de Lares, (The Big-Cheeked Man from Lares), a name given to an anonymous santero by Teodoro Vidal, based on the large cheeks with which he endowed his carvings.

Description (Spanish)

La tradición en torno a la Virgen de Montserrate se originó en las montañas angulosas de Cataluña, en el noreste de España. Cuando en 1599, según se cuenta, se le apareció al granjero Gerardo González cerca de Hormigueros, en el suroeste de Puerto Rico, surgió un nuevo conjunto de tradiciones e imaginería exclusivo a la isla. Como tantas otras Madonas, la Virgen de Montserrate se representa sentada en un trono, con su hijo Jesús en el regazo y un globo en una de sus manos extendidas. En este ejemplo el globo está ausente. La figura exhibe un estilo único característico de su creador, El Cachetón de Lares, nombre que Teodoro Vidal le otorgó a un santero anónimo, basándose en las mejillas infladas con las que el artista dotaba a sus tallas.

Location

Currently not on view

Credit Line

Gift of Teodoro Vidal

early 20th century

late 19th-early 20th century

ID Number

1997.0097.0668

accession number

1997.0097

catalog number

1997.0097.0668

Object Name

santo

Physical Description

wood; paint; metal (overall material)

handmade (overall production method/technique)

wood (overall material)

paint (overall material)

metal (overall material)

Measurements

overall: 36.9 cm x 12 cm x 11.7 cm; 14 1/2 in x 4 3/4 in x 4 5/8 in

Place Made

Puerto Rico: Lares, Lares

See more items in

Cultural and Community Life: Ethnic

Cultures & Communities

Religion

Vidal

Title

Our Lady of Monserrat

National Museum of American History

subject

Puerto Rico

Our Lady of Montserrate

Record ID

nmah_602045

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a4-2853-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa