(b c. 1615; d Santiago de Guatemala [now Antigua], ?Jan 14, 1687).
Guatemalan sculptor. His work as a master sculptor (Maestro) began around 1640 in Santiago de Guatemala (now Antigua). In 1654 he made the famous Baroque processional statue of Jesús Nazareno for the church of La Merced (in situ), which was finely carved and brought him renown. The tinting and painting of the figure was by Joseph de la Cerda. A statue made for the church of Candelaria, known as Jesús Nazareno de Candelaria (now in the church of the Candelaria, Guatemala City) has also been attributed to him, but on insufficient grounds. In 1660, as the leading sculptor in Guatemala, Zúñiga received important commissions that included retables for the convents of La Concepción and of S Catalina. In 1666 he was responsible for the construction of the catafalque for the funerary honours for Philip IV (d 1665). In the contract he described himself as Maestro of sculpture and architecture. In ...
