Quill Pen Santero
Spanish/Mexican (New Mexico), 1820 - 1850
Person TypeIndividual
BiographyThe body of work by the anonymous artist known as the Quill Pen santero is limited to a small number of retablos painted in a distinctive style. His work is characterized by sharp delicate lines that appear to have been made with a quill pen or sharp instrument, oval shaped faces and with little concern for naturalism and perspective. Some scholars speculate that he may have been a Native American based on motifs found on some of his pieces. It has not yet been determined whether the Quill Pen santero created bultos.