I.

Introduction

Latin American Sculpture, sculpture produced in South America, Central America, and Mexico after the arrival of Spanish and Portuguese colonists in the early 16th century. (To learn about other artistic developments in Latin America, see Latin American Painting; Latin American Architecture.)

Until the 20th century, Latin American sculpture comprised three main types. Stone sculpture was used primarily to decorate the exterior of churches and other important buildings. Carved wooden sculpture, often painted and gilded, was generally used to decorate church interiors. The third type, called retablos or altar ensembles, included architectural elements, carved relief sculpture, paintings, and other decorations around church altars. In addition, ceremonial religious objects, usually crafted from precious metals, fell somewhere in between sculpture and the decorative arts. Not until the 20th century did artists create significant sculpture that did not serve a religious function.

Colonial sculpture built on a strong base of indigenous (native) American traditions, especially on a Mexican tradition of outdoor sculpture. Monumental stone sculpture had enjoyed 2000 years of development in Mexico before the arrival of Spanish colonists in 1519 (see Pre-Columbian Art and Architecture).