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