HISTORY OF SANTOS IN PUERTO RICO
The santos tradition has been alive in Puerto Rico since the 16th
century. They originally served a practical purpose: for home use in
rural areas that had limited access to churches.
The Santos making as an art form and as a devotional tradition to the material and spiritual life of the Puerto Rican people; Santos making in its historic depth and connection to the Spanish colonial period and its evolutionary process through contemporary lifestyles. Thus, it has become a handprint for Puerto Rico.
There's a santos from Puerto Rico in the Smithsonian's Museum of National History that dates to the 1500s. Initially, santos were carved out of a single block of wood; only later did the craft become more sophisticated, with separate pieces assembled together to make the finished product.
Santos are hand-carved by artisans known as Santeros. Using a simple knife, these artisans (many of whom are honored as master craftsmen on the island) typically paint and sometimes adorn their creations with precious stones or filigree. They then use a mix of wax and chalk to fashion the head and face of the saint. If you want to know more about Santos in Rhode Island, Click here.
The Santos making as an art form and as a devotional tradition to the material and spiritual life of the Puerto Rican people; Santos making in its historic depth and connection to the Spanish colonial period and its evolutionary process through contemporary lifestyles. Thus, it has become a handprint for Puerto Rico.
There's a santos from Puerto Rico in the Smithsonian's Museum of National History that dates to the 1500s. Initially, santos were carved out of a single block of wood; only later did the craft become more sophisticated, with separate pieces assembled together to make the finished product.
Santos are hand-carved by artisans known as Santeros. Using a simple knife, these artisans (many of whom are honored as master craftsmen on the island) typically paint and sometimes adorn their creations with precious stones or filigree. They then use a mix of wax and chalk to fashion the head and face of the saint. If you want to know more about Santos in Rhode Island, Click here.
Also, if you want to be a Santero, a carvers of Santos de Puerto Rico, The Rhode Island Latino Arts (RILA) are working in collaboration with PRIAA to bring the best of our Artisan to teach our most amazing heritage and culture Take advantage of this opportunity. Click here for registration.
