Teodoro Vidal Collection of Puerto Rican History

Explore Puerto Rico’s history, from the 16th to the 20th centuries, through the eyes of collector Teodoro Vidal. Vidal captured the island’s history by collecting thousands of objects. Over 80 artifacts are featured here.

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
Among the most famous characters in the stories about the birth of Jesus are the Three Kings, also called the Three Wise Men, or Magi.
Description
Among the most famous characters in the stories about the birth of Jesus are the Three Kings, also called the Three Wise Men, or Magi. The Bible doesn't specify their names or nationalities, only that they were guided by the star of Bethlehem to bring three gifts to honor the birth of Christ, the "King of the Jews." On the Catholic calendar, the Three Kings are celebrated on the 6th of January. On this day, Puerto Rican children traditionally expected their Christmas gifts, not from Santa Claus, but from the Three Kings. This set is from the town of Morovis, probably crafted by a member of the Rivera family around 1900.
Description (Spanish)
Entre los personajes más famosos en torno a las historia del nacimiento de Jesús se cuentan los Reyes Magos. La Biblia no especifica sus nombres o sus países de origen, solamente dice que los guió la estrella de Belén para llevar tres obsequios en honor al nacimiento de Cristo, el "Rey de los Judíos". En el calendario católico, el día de los Reyes Magos se celebra el 6 de enero, en cuya ocasión los niños de Puerto Rico esperan que los Reyes Magos, no Santa Claus, les traigan sus regalos de Navidad. Este conjunto de Reyes Magos proviene del pueblo de Morovis y probablemente su artesano haya sido un miembro de la familia Rivera al rededor de 1900.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
late 19th or early 20th century
maker
Rivera Group
ID Number
1997.0097.0538
catalog number
1997.0097.0538
accession number
1997.0097
This wooden figure of La Virgen de la Candelaria was made by Genaro Rivera in the town of Morovis in the early 1900s. This saint is especially popular in Puerto Rican cultural traditions and folk religion.
Description
This wooden figure of La Virgen de la Candelaria was made by Genaro Rivera in the town of Morovis in the early 1900s. This saint is especially popular in Puerto Rican cultural traditions and folk religion. Many of the first settlers to Puerto Rico came originally from the Canary Islands, bringing with them their patron saint, the Virgen de la Candelaria, the Virgin of Candlemas.
Description (Spanish)
Esta figura de madera de la Virgen de la Candelaria fue tallada por Genaro Rivera en el pueblo de Morovis al comienzo del siglo XX. Este es un santo particularmente popular dentro de la tradición cultural y religiosa puertorriqueña. La Virgen de la Candelaria era el santo patrono de muchos de los primeros colonos, oriundos de las Islas Canarias, que emigraron a Puerto Rico.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1861-12-10-1941-12-14
maker
Rivera Aviles, Genaro
Rivera Aviles, Genaro
ID Number
1997.0097.0544
catalog number
1997.0097.0544
accession number
1997.0097
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
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

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