Teodoro Vidal Collection of Puerto Rican History - Introduction
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.
"Teodoro Vidal Collection of Puerto Rican History - Introduction" showing 5 items.
Los Tres Reyes Magos
- 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.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- late 19th century
- maker
- Rivera Group
- ID Number
- 1997.0097.0506
- catalog number
- 1997.0097.0506
- accession number
- 1997.0097
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
The Three Kings
- 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.
- 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
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria
- 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.
- 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
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
San José
- 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.
- 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
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
San Rafael Arcángel
- 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.
- 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
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center