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FROM PUEBLA, MEXICO:FABULOUS EXAMPLE OF MEXICAN POPULAR FOLK ART! #116
VINTAGE LARGE SIZE appr. 9" x 7" HAND-PAINTED UNUSUAL SUBJECT TIN MEXICAN RETABLO (EX VOTO), DATED 1947; SIGNED BY RETABLERO
HIGHLY DETAILED WHIMSICAL TIN RETABLO, featuring A SCENE IN A BAR/CANTINA WITH BARTENDER STANDING BEHIND THE COUNTER AND A HAPPY LOOKING CUSTOMER DRINKING BY THE TABLE STRAIGHT FROM A BOTTLE, FACING A SMILING WOMAN WITH BOTTLE-BLONDE HAIR & A HUGE DECOLLETE. SAN PANCRACIO APPEARS IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PAINTING. DATED 1947. SIGNED BY RETABLERO.
TEXT (loosely translated from Spanish): PROSTITUTE VIOLETA PEREZ GIVES ENDLESS THANKS WITH MUCH FERVOR WITH THIS RETABLO TO SAN PANCRACIO WHO HELPED HER FIND A PLACE WHERE SHE MAKES GOOD MONEY TO SUPPORT HER 7 CHILDREN AND HER PIMP. PUEBLA, 1947.
There is a hole provided for hanging on the wall.The unusual piece is ingood vintage condition; minor surface imperfections in front and rusting in the back (see photos).
A NOTE of HISTORY OF RETABLO FOLK ART:Votive paintings in Mexico go by several names in Spanish such as “ex voto,” “retablo” or “lamina,” which refer to their purpose. The painting of religious images to give thanks for a miracle or favor received, is part of a long tradition started in Europe. The form that most votive paintings take from the colonial period to the presentwas brought to Mexico by the Spanish. As in Europe, votive paintings began as static images of saints or other religious figures which were then donated to a church. Later, narrative images, telling the personal story of a miracle or favor received appeared. These paintings were first produced by the wealthy and often on canvas; also on wood; however, as sheets of tin became affordable, lower classes began to have these painted on this medium.The narrative version on metal sheets is now the traditional and representative form of votive paintings. Though some ex votos have been painted by the person receiving the miracle, most are made byretableros: commissioned artistswho interpret people's stories and produce these tokens of appreciation to be placed/hung on church walls or shrines, reinforcing the owner's devotion and gratitude.These lovely miracle paintings are in fact advertisements of the power and mercy of the saints.Due their proliferation, especially in the 18th and 19th century, many older votive paintings have left the places they were deposited and found their way into public and private collections.The collecting of tin retablos was begun by Mexican artistDiego Rivera, whose work, along with those of a number of other painters past and present, has been influenced by them.(See last photo)
Hand-painted in Mexico1947Signed by retablero.
