Philippine “Santos”A Heritage of SaintsDennis Raymond P. Maturan
What Is A“SANTO”?• The word “santo” is
derived from Spanish which means saint or holy.
• In Philippine-hispanic art, it means an iconographic representation of Jesus, the Virgin and the Saints for artistic and devotional purposes.
What Is A “Santo”?
• Philippine “santos” are usually done in the round which means they are free standing three-dimensional sculptures called “de bulto” hence the Filipino word “rebulto”.
What Is A “Santo”?• Philippine “santos”
may also be Bas Relief or High Relief sculptures known as “relieves” referring to images which are carved on a panel, slightly raised form a flat background or highly raised making them almost three-dimensional.
What Is A “Santo”?
• Philippines “santos” may also be painted on wooden panels, glass, cloth or canvass which are called cuadros or printed on paper or cloth called estampas.
Foreign Influences on Philippine “Santos”
• Chinese – Buddhist/Kuan Yin
• Indian – Buddhist• Mexican• Flemish• Spanish
Carving Forms and Styles
1) Colonial or “Primitive” Style:
• Folk Art• Elongated/Abstract/
Shortened• Non-proportioned• Bright colors• Grotesque
Carving Forms And Styles
2) De Bulto:• Free-standing piece• In the Round• Three-Dimensional • Primitive• Classical• Baroque
Carving Styles and Forms
3) De Gonce or De Gozne:
• “Hinged”• Carved clad in shorts
or chemise• To be garbed in real
clothes• Mannequin style• Quita y Pone
Carving Styles and Forms4) De Bastidor:• Head and hands are
carved in ivory or wood.• Attached to light
wooden sticks or frame.• Pyramidally or
conically shaped.• Petticoat• Meant to be vested.
Carving Styles and Forms5) Tallada or Detalyado:• Carved in the round.• Vestments are carved in
detail.• In the baroque style if
intricately carved with exaggerations in movements, posture and vestments.
• In the classical style if carved with natural posture and natural vestments flow.
• Wood – baticulin, santol, molave, kamagong
• Ivory• Stone, alabaster, marble• Papier Mache• Terracotta/Pasta Madera• Silver and Bronze• Wax
Materials and Finishing
Materials and Finishing
• Natural finish
• Monochromatic
• Stain
• Polychroming with or without gesso
• Estofado
• Varnished
• Wood finish
• Gilding (gold leafing)
“Santo” Accessories1) Metal Accessories:• Tres Potencias/Potencia
Aureola• Aureola/Diadema• Rostrillo• Medialuna/Resplandor• 12/24 Estrellas• Ramage• Corona• Setro/Globo
“Santo” Accessories
2) Vestments:• Verdugado• Saya• Tapa-pecho• Sobresaya• Manto• Recamado• Inuod• Calado
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