AAOR RUGS, dba LEWIS BOBRICK ANTIQUES Denver, Colorado

Jose Benito Ortega was born in 1858 In La Cueva in Mora County. According to Larry Frank, author of "A Land So Remote, Vol. 2, Religious Art of New Mexico, Ortega produced most of his works between the 1870's and 1907. He produced both retablos and bultos for private families and for established moradas. He is recognized for his use of bright colors, particularly red. His bultos are often flat and he was originally know as Mora Santero and the Flat Figure Santero. Author Frank notes that milled lumber was available and Ortego used processed lumber rather than hand made wood. Ortega produced more Bultos and Christo pieces than retablos. Again, according to author Frank, Ortega's Christo carvings can be identified by the round floral motifs painted on Christ's loin cloth, the flat neck and chest with incised ribs and exagerated wounds.

Christo by Jose Benito Ortega

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Item Last Modified: 02/28/08

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