A Land So Remote : Religious Art of New Mexico 1780-1907

Volume 1 of A Land So Remote elegantly illustrates the development of religious art in northern New Mexico during an active period of over 125 years. To sustain their faith when they came to the New World, the Spanish relied on santos, visual representations of saints, to alleviate their loneliness and enrich their lives. The result is a uniquely American art that embodies the religious spirit and aspirations of New Mexico's Spanish immigrants, whose enduring faith helped them cope with the rigors of a harsh and dangerous frontier life. With roots in Spanish baroque style, the pieces illustrated in this book played an important role in church, community, and family. Many of these rare and beautiful works of art have never been published. With hundreds of color photographs of works from four museums and numerous private collections, A Land So Remote is vital to any art library and as a reference for collectors.