18th Century Santos of a Madonna Style with Gilt drape and red frock, H:17.5" W:7.5" D:4.5". Santos makers worked in the European tradition of polychrome (painted wooden) sculpture. Typically, a santero carved and sanded with the use of a locally available wood then detailed to achieve the desired contour and expression. The next step is the applied size (animal glue)and gesso (chalk in animal glue) this provides an ideal ground to achieve paint. There were times when colored bole (fine clay and... Click for details
