St. Rose of Lima

Wood frame covered in metal. According to tradition, in 1615, as the Dutch corsairs set out to attack Lima, Rose gathered all the women of the city to pray for its protection. Rose came up to the altar and began to cut her dress, covering the figure of Christ with her body. In some mysterious way, the captain of the fleet died a few days later, and the ships were gone without causing harm to the city. Consequently, she is sometimes depicted holding an anchor, as in this retablo, with the cathedral of Lima balanced on its tines. Since invasion by the Spanish, Lima was considered the "anchor" port city of the colonial empire.