church decoration

Fernando Sayan Polo depicts the Holy Family enjoying an afternoon in the countryside. Sumptuous brocades adorned with gleaming bronze leaf envelop the Virgin and Saint Joseph, and both are enthralled by little Jesus, who pets a lamb. Christ is known as the Good Shepherd, a metaphor taken from the gospel and prefigured in the Psalms. Representing unblemished sacrifice, modesty and innocence, the lamb became a symbol of Jesus during the first century A.D.

The portrait emulates classic religious art from Cuzco's city's and monasteries.

Titled "Sagrada Familia" in Spanish.

A beautiful Madonna takes the children outdoors to enjoy a splendid afternoon in the countryside. Little Jesus and her cousin Elisabeth's little boy — who grew up to became Saint John the Baptist — stay close to Mary, who is ever watchful. Fernando Sayan Polo takes his inspiration from the 1507 masterpiece by Raphael Sanzio da Urbino, a painter in Italy during the High Renaissance. La belle jardinière,, also known as "Madonna and Child with Saint John the Baptist," depicts the Virgin and young boys in a similar pose. But the Peruvian artist adds halos bathed in gleaming bronze leaf and golden brocade to Mary's opulent gown.

Titled "Sagrada Familia con San Juanito" in Spanish.

Americo Tinoco exalts Mary's humanity as she tenderly proffers her breast for the infant Jesus. Crowned by a halo, she radiates maternal love. Tinoco works in the style of the Cuzco School, painting replicas of colonial religious portraiture found in the city's convents. The work is enhanced by luminous applications of gilt.

Titled "Virgen de la leche" in Spanish.

Feriberto Aylas presents an exciting set of six ornaments from Peru. Each intricate ornament is crafted of fine ceramic, offering an Andean variation on the traditional nativity. Including three nativities inside gorro hat-shaped houses, two inside churches, and one inside a castle tower, these Christmas decor accessories are carefully painted by hand.

A breathtakingly detailed ceramic nativity scene, "Central Church" is handmade in Peru and signed by the artist, Dionisio Rojas. This skilled artisan has created fine ceramics since age ten. Now married and with a workshop of his own, he has won many local, state, and national art contests in Peru.

Gathered in front of a traditional Andean church, observers of the Christian nativity are depicted in this sculpture from Peru. Dionisio Rojas handcrafts this sculpture from ceramic. All of the petite figures are painted by hand.