Object Record
Images
Metadata
Artist |
Unknown Artist |
Title |
Saint Wilgefortis (Santa Librada) |
Date |
19th c. |
Medium |
oil on tin |
Place of Origin |
Mexico |
Culture |
Mexican |
Object ID |
1991.51 |
Collection |
Retablo / Ex Voto |
Object Name |
Painting |
Credit line |
Gift from the Estate of Virginia H. Johnson |
Didactic Information |
Saint Wilgefortis was one of seven children-septuplets, born to a queen and king in Portugal. All of the children converted to Christianity, which angered their father who was not a believer. When she was a child of 13, the king promised Wilgefortis in marriage, but she had taken a vow of chastity. She prayed for divine intervention and in response, a beard grew on her face. The suitor withdrew his offer, which so infuriated her father that he ordered her to be crucified. She is invoked in times of suffering and anguish and at the time of death. |