Antique 1891 Ex-Voto Mexican Retablo Folk Art Painting (Oil on Tin)
Antique 1891 Ex-Voto Mexican Retablo Folk Art Painting of the Holy Infant of Atocha (Oil on Tin). Retablo painting on tin with the Atocha child in the upper left corner. Atocha was the child who entered prisons during the Moorish occupation of Spain and fed the prisoners. In the tale his baskets remained full, even after feeding all the prisoners (here he is shown with the basket sitting on a throne). He was the counterpart to Eleguá an Orisha in Santeria who would hold the keys of someone’s destiny; opening doors to disgrace, happiness, chance or death. Two figures are shown kneeling under Atocha. To the right at the bottom is script. Since most of the retablo artists were local painters that lacked formal art training (and often semi-literate) the grammar and spelling weren’t always correct.
Below is a literal translation of the script (including the grammar mistakes, etc):
“ in the year 1891, the first of May, in which having seen with (?) the Rodriguez‘s in the lower part of town and the authorities immediately apprehended Mr. …….rryo, who being imprisoned, and through malicious lying on the 14th day of the same month, they apprehended Jesus Juarez and then being imprisoned without cause, it occurred to his mother, Mrs. Reducinda Juarez, to implore the boy Saint de Atocha who is venerated in this villa and who, having heard her prayers, he (the son) is given his liberty and gratitude of this miracle I put this, giving thanks Penjamo (?) June 15, 1891.”
In used condition throughout. Please refer to photos for details.
Provenance: This is an ex-museum piece that was purchased by the previous collectors in the 1950s. The original typed description page is included with the retablo.
Size: 10.18 × 7.18 in
Antique 1891 Ex-Voto Mexican Retablo Folk Art Painting of the Holy Infant of Atocha (Oil on Tin). Retablo painting on tin with the Atocha child in the upper left corner. Atocha was the child who entered prisons during the Moorish occupation of Spain and fed the prisoners. In the tale his baskets remained full, even after feeding all the prisoners (here he is shown with the basket sitting on a throne). He was the counterpart to Eleguá an Orisha in Santeria who would hold the keys of someone’s destiny; opening doors to disgrace, happiness, chance or death. Two figures are shown kneeling under Atocha. To the right at the bottom is script. Since most of the retablo artists were local painters that lacked formal art training (and often semi-literate) the grammar and spelling weren’t always correct.
Below is a literal translation of the script (including the grammar mistakes, etc):
“ in the year 1891, the first of May, in which having seen with (?) the Rodriguez‘s in the lower part of town and the authorities immediately apprehended Mr. …….rryo, who being imprisoned, and through malicious lying on the 14th day of the same month, they apprehended Jesus Juarez and then being imprisoned without cause, it occurred to his mother, Mrs. Reducinda Juarez, to implore the boy Saint de Atocha who is venerated in this villa and who, having heard her prayers, he (the son) is given his liberty and gratitude of this miracle I put this, giving thanks Penjamo (?) June 15, 1891.”
In used condition throughout. Please refer to photos for details.
Provenance: This is an ex-museum piece that was purchased by the previous collectors in the 1950s. The original typed description page is included with the retablo.
Size: 10.18 × 7.18 in
Antique 1891 Ex-Voto Mexican Retablo Folk Art Painting of the Holy Infant of Atocha (Oil on Tin). Retablo painting on tin with the Atocha child in the upper left corner. Atocha was the child who entered prisons during the Moorish occupation of Spain and fed the prisoners. In the tale his baskets remained full, even after feeding all the prisoners (here he is shown with the basket sitting on a throne). He was the counterpart to Eleguá an Orisha in Santeria who would hold the keys of someone’s destiny; opening doors to disgrace, happiness, chance or death. Two figures are shown kneeling under Atocha. To the right at the bottom is script. Since most of the retablo artists were local painters that lacked formal art training (and often semi-literate) the grammar and spelling weren’t always correct.
Below is a literal translation of the script (including the grammar mistakes, etc):
“ in the year 1891, the first of May, in which having seen with (?) the Rodriguez‘s in the lower part of town and the authorities immediately apprehended Mr. …….rryo, who being imprisoned, and through malicious lying on the 14th day of the same month, they apprehended Jesus Juarez and then being imprisoned without cause, it occurred to his mother, Mrs. Reducinda Juarez, to implore the boy Saint de Atocha who is venerated in this villa and who, having heard her prayers, he (the son) is given his liberty and gratitude of this miracle I put this, giving thanks Penjamo (?) June 15, 1891.”
In used condition throughout. Please refer to photos for details.
Provenance: This is an ex-museum piece that was purchased by the previous collectors in the 1950s. The original typed description page is included with the retablo.
Size: 10.18 × 7.18 in
