Sanctuario Chimayo

c. 1920

Gustave Baumann

(American, born Germany, 1881–1971)

Culture

America

Medium

tempera on brown paper

Support

Brown paper

Measurements

Image: 12.8 x 17.6 cm (5 1/16 x 6 15/16 in.); with borders: 15.7 x 19.8 cm (6 3/16 x 7 13/16 in.); Sheet: 24.5 x 28.1 cm (9 5/8 x 11 1/16 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Ann Baumann 2005.474

This artwork is known to be under copyright.

Location

Not on view

Description

Sanctuario Chimayo, built in 1816, is an example of Roman Catholic Spanish colonial churches. It has thick adobe walls, two bell towers, and a six-foot crucifix. This pilgrimage site is where many invalids hope to be cured by the dirt in a round pit inside the sanctuary that is believed to have healing powers. “The Sanctuario was a place to inspire reverence even in the non-believer,” Baumann commented. “Worshipers with secret wishes come from far places to light a candle before the altar asking that their prayers be granted as the wax drips onto the adobe floor.” Baumann made a color woodcut of the scene in 1924.