Puerto Rican Crucifix
The tradition of crafting santos, or wood carvings of saints, has been alive in Puerto Rico since the 16th century. The carvings are hand-carved by artisans called santeros. This particular cross is carved out of cedar and Spanish elm and painted with polychrome.
Jose Luis Negron, a native of Corozal, Puerto Rico, crafted this crucifix. Negron saw much success as a sculptor and won numerous awards for his work. His santos are part of the collections in the Museo de Arte de Ponce and the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture in San Juan.
This piece had been passed down through a family, but it is believed to have been created by the artist in 1990. Abiding by his own personal style, Negron did not paint the would-be skin of the santos. Rather, the natural wood color shines through.
A member of the Notre Dame Club of Puerto Rico donated this crucifix to the University in 2023.