Religion, in it’s various forms is important in Cuban culture. Many of the homes have small altars devoted to their favorite Saint set up in a prominent place. My mom’s was always Santa Barbara. If my memory serves me, there was a time we had two altars set up, one for her, one for Saint Lazarus. I asked her permission to borrow her statue for a few weeks so that I could paint her for this project. I think it made her happy that I asked to borrow something that was very meaningful to her. I included a rosary that my daughter and her husband brought her from the Vatican. I also included an apple in the painting. In practice, if you ask something of the Saint and they grant it, you place a gift to them on their altar, such as an apple or flowers. I recall my grandfather putting cigars on Lazarus’ altar. I placed the apple in the painting more as a compositional and color strategy.
Religion, in it’s various forms is important in Cuban culture. Many of the homes have small altars devoted to their favorite Saint set up in a prominent place. My mom’s was always Santa Barbara. If my memory serves me, there was a time we had two altars set up, one for her, one for Saint Lazarus. I asked her permission to borrow her statue for a few weeks so that I could paint her for this project. I think it made her happy that I asked to borrow something that was very meaningful to her. I included a rosary that my daughter and her husband brought her from the Vatican. I also included an apple in the painting. In practice, if you ask something of the Saint and they grant it, you place a gift to them on their altar, such as an apple or flowers. I recall my grandfather putting cigars on Lazarus’ altar. I placed the apple in the painting more as a compositional and color strategy.