Alter at San José de Laguna
Alter at San Jose de la Laguna, early 1700s, hand-carved and painted by an unknown Spanish painter, New Mexico.
An early relic of the Spanish Inquisition, the church was built about 1700. The hand-carved and painted altar at the end wall is an example of Early Spanish Altar Paintings.
The right panel, St. Barbara, was the Patroness against Thunder, Lightning, Firearms, and Sudden Death. On the left, St. John Nepomucene was the Patron of Water and the Seal of Confession. In the center is a painting of the Patron of this Mission – St. Joseph. The top panel near the ceiling depicts the Blessed Trinity. (Hammons, 2014)
This caught my attention for the vibrant reds and greens used and the intricate, folksy, hand-carved and painted floral decorative elements. Looks like a Mexican alter, and I see influences from early Aztec and Spanish art.
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