Luis González
Puerto Rican, born 1938
The All-Powerful Hand of God / La Mano Poderosa, 2001
Polychromed wood
19 ½ x 9 x 4 5/8 inches
Lent from a private Florida collection

The All-Powerful Hand of God symbolizes both Christ's power and his lineage, providing a family tree of his ancestors. From left to right, the figures on each finger represent Saint Joachim and Saint Anne (the Virgin Mary's parents), Saint Joseph, the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child. The figure of Christ is usually placed on the thumb since this is the most important finger. Without the thumb, the hand would lose its effectiveness.