Plate 12: Saint Rita: From Portfolio "Spanish Colonial Designs of New Mexico" 1935 - 1942

"Plate 12: Saint Rita" is a watercolor painting from the portfolio "Spanish Colonial Designs of New Mexico," created by an anonymous artist between 1935 and 1942. The artwork depicts Saint Rita, a popular figure in Catholic iconography, holding a cross and standing on a pedestal, with a skull on a separate pedestal nearby. This image, part of a larger collection exploring New Mexican colonial art, captures the unique blend of religious devotion and artistic expression characteristic of the region's cultural heritage. The painting's vibrant colors and simplified forms evoke the folk art traditions of the Southwest, showcasing the enduring influence of Spanish colonialism on artistic practices in the region.