Plate 30: Saint Isidore: From Portfolio "Spanish Colonial Designs of New Mexico"

American 20th Century

National Gallery of Art

This is a painting of a wooden statue depicting a man wearing a hat and two decorated cattle. The statue is stylized and simplistic, with the man adorned in a dark blue outfit trimmed with red and wearing a large-brimmed black hat. His face and hands are painted with simple but distinct features, including a strong jawline and facial hair. Accompanying the statue of the man are two small cattle figures, which stand on a base. The cattle are white with black details and feature colorful yellow and red decorative elements on their backs and necks. This is in the style of an unknown artist, exhibiting a folk art tradition or a regional cultural depiction possibly inspired by rural life.