Santos: Enduring Images of Northern New Mexican Village Churches

Richly illustrated with examples of 18th- and 19th-century art from northern New Mexico's village churches, Santos is an in-depth investigation into the artistic heritage of the New Mexican santero (saint maker).

Along with photographer Jack Parsons, Marie Romero Cash visited every church in the region and documented, identified, and measured each piece. Together they photographed over 500 pieces, including 19 moradas (places of worship for Penitentes) and the Archdiocese of Santa Fe collection housed at the Museum of International Folk Art. Along the way, Cash uncovered numerous examples of unique santero art that were housed in these churches, protected by thick adobe walls and dedicated mayordomos (caretakers). In some cases, these pieces had survived intact as long as two hundred years.

In addition to cataloging these pieces, Cash delves into the specific artistic origins of this unique form, identifying two previously unknown major santeros, the 18th-Century Novice and the Laguna Santero. Cash's extensive research into these formerly "anonymous" artisans fills a gap in the study of this unique form, making Santos indispensable for art historians and the general reader interested in the culture and art of the American Southwest.