Goa (Indo-Portuguese)
Polychromed wood
A decorative in the round wood sculpture of Saint Joseph standing on a raised base. Dressed in a tunic and a mantle with accentuated and dynamic pleating, his face is inexpressive and distant, which bestows a certain majesty to the figure. His left hand would have held a stick, which is lacking. Saint Joseph was a Jewish man who according to the canonical Gospels married to Mary, the mother of Jesus. In Catholic traditions, Joseph is regarded as the patron saint of workers and is associated with various feast days.
Small religious sculptures such as the present one were instrumental in the didactic role of the church. As many local converts were illiterate, religious iconography was important in conveying doctrine and meaning. The present Saint Peter was most likely sculpted by an indigenous artist working under commission from the church authorities or from a local patron motivated by devout feelings.
