Religion

Page from the Koran

One hallmark of the American experience captured in the Museum's collections is the nation's broad diversity of religious faiths. Artifacts range from Thomas Jefferson's Bible to a huge "Sunstone" sculpture carved for a Mormon temple in Illinois in 1844 to a household shrine from the home of a Pueblo Indian in the 1990s. Furniture, musical instruments, clothing, cooking ware, and thousands of prints and figures in the collections have all played roles in the religious lives of Americans. The most comprehensive collections include artifacts from Jewish and Christian European Americans, Catholic Latinos, Protestant Arab Americans, Buddhist and Christian Asian Pacific Americans, and Protestant African Americans. One notable group is the Vidal Collection of carved figures known as santos and other folk religious material from the practice of Santeria in Puerto Rico.

Place: Puerto Rico

San Antonio de Padua

St. Anthony of Padua is one of the most venerated saints in Puerto Rico.
Description
St. Anthony of Padua is one of the most venerated saints in Puerto Rico. According to Catholic tradition, he was miraculously visited by the Infant Jesus, and is commonly referred to as the "finder of lost articles." This figure is an early example of a santo from the 18th century.
Description (Spanish)
Conforme a la tradición, San Antonio de Padua, uno de los santos más venerados de Puerto Rico, fue milagrosamente visitado por el niño Jesús. Comúnmente se lo invoca para "encontrar objetos perdidos". Esta figura constituye un ejemplo temprano de los santos del siglo XVIII.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
18th century
depicted
Saint Anthony of Padua
ID Number
1997.0097.0635
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.0635

San Rafael Arcángel

Rafael is one of several archangels (high-ranking angels) who exist in the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim traditions. The story of Rafael is found in the Book of Tobit, found in the Bibles of Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians. Devotees of St.
Description
Rafael is one of several archangels (high-ranking angels) who exist in the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim traditions. The story of Rafael is found in the Book of Tobit, found in the Bibles of Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians. Devotees of St. Raphael the Archangel consider him the traveler's guide, guardian of youth, and the archangel charged with healing humankind and the Earth. This santo was made early in the 20th century by Juan Cartagena in the town of Orocovis.
Description (Spanish)
Rafael es uno de los varios arcángeles (ángeles de alta jerarquía) presentes en las tradiciones cristiana, judía y musulmana. La historia de Rafael se halla en el libro de Tobit, el cual se incluye únicamente en la Biblia de los cristianos católicos y ortodoxos occidentales. Los devotos de San Rafael lo consideran como guía de los viajeros, guardián de los jóvenes y arcángel capaz de aliviar a la humanidad y a la tierra. Este santo data de principios del siglo XX y fue tallado por Juan Cartagena en el pueblo de Orocovis.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1891-1956-11-04
depicted
Saint Raphael
maker
Cartagena Martinez, Juan
ID Number
1997.0097.0746
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.0746

Barbie Dressed as La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre

This Barbie doll is costumed and accessorized as a representation of The Virgin of Caridad del Cobre, Patron Saint of Cuba. The doll wears the ornate blue and gold robe characteristic of the Virgin in other depictions in religious cards, carvings, and statues.
Description
This Barbie doll is costumed and accessorized as a representation of The Virgin of Caridad del Cobre, Patron Saint of Cuba. The doll wears the ornate blue and gold robe characteristic of the Virgin in other depictions in religious cards, carvings, and statues. The figure has a crown and is holding a baby (Barbie's brother doll), representing the image of Jesus, and an orb and a crucifix. The doll is mounted on a plaster base. Below the doll is a paper boat on painted cloth to represent the sea, with three doll figures on the boat that represent the fishermen lost at sea that the Virgin saves. Three angels are suspended above the boat. Mixed materials including glass, fabric, plastic, gold braid, plaster, paper, paint, and synthetic jewels. Made by Armando Pérez, a man of Cuban descent, living in Hatillo, Puerto Rico, at the time he sold this doll to the Smithsonian.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1996 - 1997
manufacturer
Mattel, Inc.
maker
Perez, Armando
ID Number
1997.0178.01
accession number
1997.0178
catalog number
1997.0178.01

San Rafael Arcángel

This santo represents St. Raphael the Archangel, the traveler's guide, guardian of youth, and the archangel charged with healing humankind and the Earth. Rafael is one of several archangels (high-ranking angels) who exist in the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim traditions.
Description
This santo represents St. Raphael the Archangel, the traveler's guide, guardian of youth, and the archangel charged with healing humankind and the Earth. Rafael is one of several archangels (high-ranking angels) who exist in the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim traditions. The story of Rafael is found in the Book of Tobit, in the Bibles of Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians.
Description (Spanish)
Este santo representa a San Rafael Arcángel, guía de los viajeros, guardián de los jóvenes y arcángel encargado de aliviar a la humanidad y a la tierra. Rafael es uno de los varios arcángeles (ángeles de alta jerarquía) presentes en las tradiciones cristiana, judía y musulmana. La historia de Rafael se halla en el libro de Tobit, el cual se incluye únicamente en la Biblia de los cristianos católicos y ortodoxos occidentales.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
late 19th-early 20th century
depicted
Saint Raphael
ID Number
1997.0097.0775
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.0775

San Antonio

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
20th century
ID Number
1997.0097.0905
catalog number
1997.0097.0905
accession number
1997.0097

Rosary

The beads in this rosary are made from wood, and four large milagros, or "miracles" representing offerings to a particular saint, are attached to the rosary. Rosaries are strings of beads used by Catholics to repeat prayers such as the "Hail Mary" and the "Our Father".
Description
The beads in this rosary are made from wood, and four large milagros, or "miracles" representing offerings to a particular saint, are attached to the rosary. Rosaries are strings of beads used by Catholics to repeat prayers such as the "Hail Mary" and the "Our Father". Sometimes they are offered as tokens of special thanks to particular saints. Rosaries in the Vidal Collection are made from a wide variety of materials such as silver, gold, horn, seed, wood, and coral.
Description (Spanish)
Las cuentas de este rosario son de madera y llevan adheridos cuatro milagros de importante tamaño que representan ofrendas a determinados santos. Los rosarios son collares de cuentas que usan los católicos para repetir plegarias tales como el Ave María y el Padre Nuestro. A veces se ofrecen en señal de agradecimiento a ciertos santos. Los rosarios de la Colección Vidal se hallan confeccionados de una gran variedad de materiales, desde plata y oro, hasta cuerno, semillas, madera y coral.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
20th century
ID Number
1997.0097.1088.001
catalog number
1997.0097.1088.001
accession number
1997.0097

San José

The santos collected by Teodoro Vidal were objects of religious devotion. Note the milagros tied to this base of the figure of San José. Saint Joseph is often depicted with his staff as he carries the Christ Child.Los santos coleccionados por el Sr.
Description
The santos collected by Teodoro Vidal were objects of religious devotion. Note the milagros tied to this base of the figure of San José. Saint Joseph is often depicted with his staff as he carries the Christ Child.
Description (Spanish)
Los santos coleccionados por el Sr. Vidal constituían verdaderos objetos de devoción religiosa. Obsérvense los milagros adheridos a la base de esta figura de San José. San José se representa a menudo con una vara, cargando al Niño Jesús.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
late 19th-early 20th century
ID Number
1997.0097.0849
catalog number
1997.0097.0849
accession number
1997.0097

Trinchante y Hacha

This hatchet and knife from the Hormigueros region were used in carving santos. The hatchet is 16 cm. long, and the handle is made of the native guayalote wood and has a hole pierced near the end. The knife has a 9 cm.
Description
This hatchet and knife from the Hormigueros region were used in carving santos. The hatchet is 16 cm. long, and the handle is made of the native guayalote wood and has a hole pierced near the end. The knife has a 9 cm. wooden handle carved into a spiral shape.
Description (Spanish)
Esta hacha y trinchante provenientes de la región de Hormigueros se utilizaban para el tallado de santos. El hacha tiene 16 centímetros de largo y el mango está hecho de madera nativa de guayabote y presenta una perforación cerca del extremo. El trinchante tiene un mango de 9 cm. de largo tallado en forma de espiral.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
20th century
ID Number
1997.0097.0324
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.0324

Los Tres Reyes Magos

On the Catholic calendar, the Three Kings are celebrated on the 6th of January. On this date Puerto Rican children traditionally expected their Christmas gifts, not from Santa Claus, but from the Three Kings.
Description
On the Catholic calendar, the Three Kings are celebrated on the 6th of January. On this date Puerto Rican children traditionally expected their Christmas gifts, not from Santa Claus, but from the Three Kings. In Puerto Rico, the Three Kings, (in Spanish called Reyes Magos) are depicted as riding horses, not camels. According to the Bible, these kings are said to come from the east, although popular tradition identifies one of the kings as Melchor and depicts him as African in origin. The figure of Melchor is one of the first representations of a black person in Puerto Rican art. This set of Three Kings is from the town of Morovis, probably crafted around 1990 by a member of the Rivera family.
Description (Spanish)
El calendario católico fija la celebración del Día de Reyes para el 6 de enero. Los niños puertorriqueños esperaban que este día los Reyes Magos, y no Santa Claus, les trajeran sus regalos de Navidad. En Puerto Rico, los Reyes Magos se representan montados a caballo en vez de en camellos. A pesar de que la Biblia dice que estos reyes venían del este, la tradición popular describe a uno de los reyes, Melchor, con características de origen africano. La figura de Melchor es una de las primeras representaciones de una persona de raza negra en el arte puertorriqueño. Esta artesanía de los Reyes Magos proviene del pueblo de Morovis y es probable que su creador haya sido uno de los miembros de la familia Rivera.
Date made
late 19th century
maker
Rivera Group
ID Number
1997.0097.0506
catalog number
1997.0097.0506
accession number
1997.0097

San José

This figure of Saint Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus Christ, was carved by Genaro Rivera in the town of Morovis at the turn of the 20th century.
Description
This figure of Saint Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus Christ, was carved by Genaro Rivera in the town of Morovis at the turn of the 20th century. Several of the milagros attached to this saint are in the shape of legs.
Description (Spanish)
Esta figura, tallada por Genaro Rivera al rededor de 1900 en el pueblo de Morovis, representa a San José, el padre terrenal de Jesucristo. Se pueden observar varios milagros en forma de piernas adheridos al santo.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1861-12-10-1941-12-14
maker
Rivera Aviles, Genaro
ID Number
1997.0097.0619
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.0619

San Sebastián

Saint Sebastian was an early Christian martyr who, according to legend, was tied to a tree, shot with arrows, and left for dead. He not only recovered, but returned to preaching Christianity. For this, the Roman emperor Diocletian ordered him beaten to death.
Description
Saint Sebastian was an early Christian martyr who, according to legend, was tied to a tree, shot with arrows, and left for dead. He not only recovered, but returned to preaching Christianity. For this, the Roman emperor Diocletian ordered him beaten to death. He is almost always represented tied to a post and shot with arrows, thus making him instantly recognizable.
Description (Spanish)
San Sebastián fue un antiguo mártir cristiano, a quien según cuenta la leyenda, amarraron a un árbol, dispararon flechas y abandonaron dándolo por muerto. Sin embargo, no solo se recobró sino que regresó a promulgar el cristianismo. Por esta razón, el emperador romano Diocletian ordenó que se lo matara a golpes. Es fácil reconocer su imagen porque casi siempre se lo representa amarrado a un poste con flechas clavadas en el cuerpo.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
late 19th-early 20th century
ID Number
1997.0097.0696
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.0696

Unidentified Virgen

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
18th Century
ID Number
1997.0097.0205
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.0205
collector/donor number
.732

Virgen de Monserrate

In Puerto Rican religious tradition, the Virgin of Monserrat made a miraculous appearance in 1599, near the town of Hormigueros.
Description
In Puerto Rican religious tradition, the Virgin of Monserrat made a miraculous appearance in 1599, near the town of Hormigueros. Depicted in a broad range of skin tones, at times in contrast with her son Jesus Christ (missing from her lap in this example), she is one of the most frequently carved santos in Puerto Rico. Represented behind her are the jagged mountains of Catalonia, Spain, the place where the veneration of this particular Madonna originated. This figure, by a member of the Espada group of artisans, dates from the 19th century.
Description (Spanish)
Según la tradición religiosa puertorriqueña, la Virgen de Montserrate apareció milagrosamente en el año 1599 cerca del pueblo de Hormigueros. El color de su piel varía ampliamente en las distintas imágenes en las que aparece representada, a veces en contraste con su hijo Jesús (quien en este ejemplo se halla ausente de su regazo). Se trata de uno de los santos más tallados en Puerto Rico. Detrás de ella se observan las montañas angulosas de Cataluña, España, donde se originó la veneración de esta Madona en particular. Esta figura la talló en el siglo XIX un miembro del grupo de artesanos Espada.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
19th century
maker
Espada Group
ID Number
1997.0097.0648
accession number
1997.0097
catalog number
1997.0097.0648

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