Santa Rosa de Lima Statue
A 17th‑century polychrome wooden statue with gold leaf from the Capilla de Santa Mónica, Epazoyucan, Hidalgo
CyArk
U.S. Embassy Mexico
Santa Rosa de Lima Statue (2026) by US Embassy MexicoCyArk
Taking a Closer Look
Carved in wood and finished with estofado, polychromy, and gold-leaf plating, the statue is a richly decorated example of colonial-era religious heritage.
Importance to the community
Learn why this piece mattered to the local community
Loss and Identification
On December 30, 2007, the chapel of Santa Mónica in Epazoyucan was looted, and this statue was stolen along with other religious images. The sculpture later surfaced in the United States, where authorities identified it and linked it to Mexico’s stolen cultural property in 2017.
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Returning a Lost Treasure
On December 11, 2024, the statue was officially repatriated to Mexico in a ceremony at the Museo del Templo Mayor in Mexico City. The recovery involved binational legal coordination between the U.S. Dept of Justice, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and INAH.
Learn more about the restoration and return of the statue
Repatriated Artifacts Returned to Mexico (2026) by US Embassy MexicoCyArk
Keep Learning About Repatriation
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