Ceramic statue of a Spanish fraternity member wearing green and yellow robes, Spain, 1860-1935

Late 19th or early 20th century ceramic statue of Spanish fraternity member in yellow and green robes. The fraternity processes through the streets of Seville, Spain, during Holy Week, 1860-1935

Dressed in coloured robes with tall pointed hoods, each of these statues represents a religious brotherhood in Seville, Spain. This statue in green and yellow represents Esperanza de Triana the Fraternity of the Holy Sacrament and the Pure and Clean Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary, Holy Christ of the Three Falls, Our Lady of Hope and Saint John the Evangelist. From Palm Sunday until Easter Sunday, these brotherhoods process through the streets following large statues showing the events of Holy Week including the Last Supper and the crucifixion. The hoods are worn to show that the penitent, performing penance for their sins, is only known to God and no-one else.

It is thought that the statue was made for the tourist market in Spain and was purchased by Captain Johnston-Saint, one of Henry Wellcome’s collecting agents, in 1933.