Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Holy Family
Artifact IDMO 1956.328
Object Type
Carving
Artist
Patrocino Barela
(American, ca. 1900 - 1964)
Date1936
Mediumwood
Dimensionsoverall H 15 1/8 in x W 9 in x D 3 3/8 in (38.4 cm x 22.9 cm x 8.6 cm )
Physical DescriptionA pine carving of two adult figures (St. Joseph and the Virgin Mary) with a child (Jesus) and the image of a heart between them. The sculpture is mounted onto a black-painted wooden base. On the underside of the base are several labels: a WPA project sticker and an exhibit label for the Museum of Modern Art in New York.Historical NotePatrocinio Barela created this sculpture for the New Mexico Art Project, Federal Art Project, Works Progress Administration. Barela emerged as an important American artist when several of his sculptures, including this one, appeared in a Federal Art Project exhibition at New York’s Museum of Modern Art in 1936. One of the prominent visitors at the 1936 MOMA exhibit was WPA Director Harry Hopkins. Hopkins admired Holy Family and expressed an interest in having it installed in his office. Eventually, the piece came into the custody of President Roosevelt and it was sent to the Roosevelt Library. This sculpture is on display in the NEW DEAL ARTWORKS exhibit in the Museum’s NEW DEAL gallery.
Additional Details
Credit LineAllocated by the U.S. Government, Works Progress Administration, Federal Art Project, 1935 - 1943. Held by the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesArtifacts Relating to the New Deal (National Archives Identifier 750981)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestricted
CopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
On view
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