Vintage Mexican Religious Hand Painted Oil on Tin Panel Retablo Folk Art

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An original hand painted oil on tin panel retablo ex-voto, Mexico, mid 20th century. circa 1948

Highly desirable rare and … Read more An original hand painted oil on tin panel retablo ex-voto, Mexico, mid 20th century. circa 1948

Highly desirable rare and unusual scenery, highly decorative, with artistic, cultural and historical value, scare one-of-a-kind paintings such as this provide unique insight into the lives of everyday people and the issues they have faced. This work features exceptionally executed imagery, intricately detailed, beautiful rich polychrome decoration, nicely aged patina, lightly distressed, it presents splendidly, with attractive antique character, charm, rustic warmth and artistical depth, having a small hole at the top for wall hanging.

A wonderful example of Mexican religious folk art, this rare devotional votive painting commissioned as an ex-voto offering, likely depicting the story that led to its commission, giving gratitude for divine intercession. With iconography depicting Saint Anthony of Padua dressed in the simple religious hooded robe habit of a Franciscan, holding child, appearing in a spherical radiating halo in the sky, representing emanating divine light, above landscape with Saint Anthony's Church monument in Gjakova, Kosovo. Next to a newly married couple in formal dress, standing over hand written Spanish text, dated lower right, circa 1948

Handmade then deposited at a shrine as a votive offering, works such as this can be found in churches, behind altars, overdoors, shrines and sanctuaries throughout Mexico and Central America. Due to their proliferation in the late 18th and 19th century, and given church space is finite, many older votive paintings have left the places they were deposited, thrown out or sold to vendors to make way for new one. Eventually they found their way into public and private collections, as they became fewer interest grew, now valuable collectors items, they and can now be found in museums and private collections in various parts of the world.

Dimensions:
8.5" High, 10.25" Wide See less