Master woodcarver Domingo Orta created this piece sometime in the late 1960’s or early 70’s. It’s a rare find and in very good condition. The wood’s smooth, no warping, cracks or damage. There is one tiny insect hole on the right side of the base (See photo) It is one of Orta’s earliest works as seen by the fact that it’s unpainted and his wife Santia was the one who began painting his carvings. 1,1975 as seen by the name of the store on the base. In the 1980’s, she opened an arts and crafts store (Kiosko Cultural) in Plaza las Americas (See sticker on bottom of base). Orta did not sign this work or identify the saint he carved. He is considered a master carver and had, together with his family, received “El Premio de Excelencia Artesanal” by the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture. He, his wife Santia and four sons followed his lead and all became “santeros” or carvers of wooden saints and traditional figures (estampas). Santia died in 2013. Orta’s family were farmers. As a boy, he began carving “cuatros, ” a local musicial instrument before carving saints. His works are part of the permanent collections at the Ponce Museum of Art, the Vatican collection in Rome, Museo Santiago de Compostela in Spain, Spain’s Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Compostela and the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.