Ernesto Salazar – Virgin Mary 26″ Bulto/Santo Carving

Signed and dated on bottom. The sculpture follows the Barela tradition, characterized by an elegant, slender silhouette and simplified, meditative facial features. The hands are carved with the delicate, tapered fingers typical of Ernesto’s more refined works. The most striking feature is the intricate stippling or “punched” texture across the shoulders and down the front of the cloak. This technique is often used by the Salazar family to represent the stars on the mantle of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe or delicate embroidery. Carved from native New Mexico cedar, the piece retains its natural honey-blonde tone. By leaving it unpainted, Salazar allows the fragrant, swirling grain of the wood to act as the primary decorative element. Please see pictures for condition details as the photos are considered part of the description.