A Communion of Saints: Sta. Rita de Cascia
Sta. Rita de Cascia
(Born Margherita Lotti 1381 - May 22, 1457)
18th Century
FILIPINO, probably from Iloilo Province (Panay)
Wood with ivory face mask (rostro) and ivory hands.
A wooden image of Sta. Rita of Cascia, patron saint of impossible cases. Ivory face mask (rostro) and hands. Right hand missing. The saint is wearing the costume of an Augustinian nun, the black painted habit with the long Augustinian sleeves. Under her veil, she is shown wearing a white wimple. The severity of the black habit is relieved by a sprinkling of gold, parcel gilt stars. Her waist is cinched with a gold belt and her habit is embellished with gold gilt edges.
The ivory face mask shows a typcally Malay face. The forehead is broad and her physiognomy rather flat. Her nose is broad with flat, flaring nostrils typical of Philippine santo images of the period. Her lips show traces of red-orange polychromy which is another strong indication of this piece's Philippine provenance. Her habit falls in horizontal folds down her front ending just above her feet allowing the tips of her toes to peep through.
A very similar image of Sta. Rita is published in Gatbonton's Philippine Religious Carvings in Ivory (1983, p. 71) wherein the author identifies the Augustinian habit shown here. Further, Gatbonton states that Augustinian images from Iloilo show the sleeves formed in elongated vees as shown here. Condition is good with missing right hand. Paint and gilding losses in spotted areas.
Height: 34 cm or 13.6 in.
Provenance: Collection of Dr. Porfirio J. and Mrs. Socorro Rodriguez Callo
Reference: Gatbonton, E. B. 1983. Philippine Religious Carvings in Ivory. Manila: Intramuros Administration. p. 71.
A Communion of Saints: Sta. Rita de Cascia
Sta. Rita de Cascia
(Born Margherita Lotti 1381 - May 22, 1457)
18th Century
FILIPINO, probably from Iloilo Province (Panay)
Wood with ivory face mask (rostro) and ivory hands.
A wooden image of Sta. Rita of Cascia, patron saint of impossible cases. Ivory face mask (rostro) and hands. Right hand missing. The saint is wearing the costume of an Augustinian nun, the black painted habit with the long Augustinian sleeves. Under her veil, she is shown wearing a white wimple. The severity of the black habit is relieved by a sprinkling of gold, parcel gilt stars. Her waist is cinched with a gold belt and her habit is embellished with gold gilt edges.
The ivory face mask shows a typcally Malay face. The forehead is broad and her physiognomy rather flat. Her nose is broad with flat, flaring nostrils typical of Philippine santo images of the period. Her lips show traces of red-orange polychromy which is another strong indication of this piece's Philippine provenance. Her habit falls in horizontal folds down her front ending just above her feet allowing the tips of her toes to peep through.
A very similar image of Sta. Rita is published in Gatbonton's Philippine Religious Carvings in Ivory (1983, p. 71) wherein the author identifies the Augustinian habit shown here. Further, Gatbonton states that Augustinian images from Iloilo show the sleeves formed in elongated vees as shown here. Condition is good with missing right hand. Paint and gilding losses in spotted areas.
Height: 34 cm or 13.6 in.
Provenance: Collection of Dr. Porfirio J. and Mrs. Socorro Rodriguez Callo
Reference: Gatbonton, E. B. 1983. Philippine Religious Carvings in Ivory. Manila: Intramuros Administration. p. 71.