Do you know anything about the history ofwooden sculptures from Mexico

San Jose CA

Description

Hi, I am doing some research on the history of religious wooden art sculptures primarily from Mexico around the year 1800. If you, or someone you know, has some expertise on the subject could I ask what kind of wood was mostly likely used in those days to sculpt religious items. What tools did they use? Were the sculptures made by several workers like a team, or did just one artist do each item by themselves in those days. The item I am doing the research on, and most specifically referring to, was made in or around Mexico City in the very late 1700's. It is precious and priceless, and has endured since 1800 through fires and quakes, pandemics and wars, floods and droughts, good times and bad. I would so like to correspond with someone, perhaps a college professor with some knowledge, or an artist who has worked on wood and knows the history of objects made in Mexico in that time frame, or just an amateur historian like me. Mexico City in 1800 must have had many artists in the area filling the needs of the local and distant Catholic Churches. Are there any books on the subject that you may know of? The population of Mexico City in 1800 was about five to six million at that time. How many artists of wood sculptures were around then? Were items painted, and what types of paint was used. How did they sand items then. So I am hopeful there will be some info somewhere on how wooden sculptures were made in those days, what tools they used, how different it may have been for artists, and if there were parts of Mexico City in 1800 where several artist shops were concentrated, maybe near the churches, or the Franciscan monastery College of San Fernando in Mexico City. Any information you can share would be greatly appreciated. I look forward to any of your knowledge and insights, even if it is just a tiny clue, an individual to write, or a lead to pursue. If you are interested, contact me and I can share more information on the subject of my own journey. Thanks