H69.231.7

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17th century
25 in HIGH x 19 in WIDE
(63.50 cm HIGH x 48.26 cm WIDE)
Museum Purchase
H69.231.7






Painting. Description: Mexican Colonial painting of Santiago in battle; oil on wood; Saint James on grey horse. He is in armour with a red cloak, carrying white standard with red cross, and brandishing sword. Two men have fallen before him and soldiers with spears are in the back ground. Remarks: Fumigated 12/83 Disposition: On exhibit From the History Information Station: History: Saint James was the brother of Saint John the Evangelist. The name Santiago is derived from his Spanish name, San Diego. Santiago came to the New World as the patron saint of Spain and of soldiers. In addition, Santiago was sought as protector against all ills and for the fertility of mares. Battles fought by the Spaniards were opened with the cry: "Santiago Y A Ellos!" (St. James and at them). In the New World no less than 14 apparitions of Santiago were reported in battles. He was first reported to have appeared in battles between the Spanish and the Indians, and later in battles between the Spanish and the Mexicans. In the last instance he is, of course, reported as fighting on both sides.

Picture This Information

This artifact is part of the OMCA's Picture This website. More about the context and history of this artifact is available at Picture This.

About the Picture This web project: California's Perspectives on American History is a resource for teachers and students to learn about the experiences of diverse peoples of California by using primary source images from the Oakland Museum of California's collections. Organized into 11 time periods spanning from pre-1769 to the present, more than 300 photographs, drawings, posters, and prints tell stories from the perspectives of different ethnic groups. Historical contexts are provided to offer a framework of California's role in relation to American history.

The National Archives state that primary sources, "fascinate students because they are real and they are personal: history is humanized through them." Picture This invites students to examine the historical record, encouraging them to connect history with real people and explore how images tell stories and convey historical evidence about the human experience. History becomes more than just a series of facts, dates, and events.      

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