Artwork
Saint Christopher
Saint Christopher is an oil painting by Melchor Pérez de Holguín. It dates from 1710 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
By isolating the figure, the artwork emphasizes the spiritual significance of Christopher's role as a protector and guide for those in transit.
This 1710 oil painting by Melchor Pérez de Holguín depicts Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers. As a work of religious art, the image focuses entirely on the hagiographic figure, adhering to traditional iconography that identifies the giant who carried the Christ child across a river. The composition serves as a devotional object, representing the saint's legendary act of service and faith.
By isolating the figure, the artwork emphasizes the spiritual significance of Christopher's role as a protector and guide for those in transit.
Technique & Style
Created in 1710, this religious painting by Melchor Pérez de Holguín depicts the figure of Saint Christopher. The work is executed in oil paint applied to a canvas support. As a piece of religious art, it utilizes traditional painterly methods characteristic of the early eighteenth century to render its sacred subject matter.
History & Provenance
The work was created in 1710 by Melchor Pérez de Holguín as an oil painting on canvas depicting Saint Christopher. It entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on view in gallery 621.
The painting was acquired by the museum in 2018 as part of the acquisition of works from the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
The work is catalogued in the Metropolitan Museum of Art under accession number 2018.652.2, reflecting its provenance from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The work Saint Christopher by Melchor Pérez de Holguín (dated 1710) is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, accessioned as 2018.652.2. It has been displayed in the museum's galleries as part of religious art exhibitions, including a 2018 presentation of works from the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Overview
Created in 1710, this oil painting portrays Saint Christopher bearing the Christ Child across water. The work belongs to the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and exemplifies the Baroque religious imagery typical of early 18th‑century South America.
Context
The composition follows the conventional iconography of Saint Christopher, a patron saint of travelers, commonly depicted carrying the Christ Child across a river. This motif resonated in colonial Spanish America, where pilgrimage and protection were central themes in ecclesiastical art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Melchor Pérez de Holguín (c. 1660-1732) was a painter and architect, known for the creation of Baroque artworks in Potosí. He was a central figure in the Potosi School tradition. He was active from 1689 to his death in 1732.
