This antique Mexican retablo depicts what is called The Mano Ponderosa (The All Powerful Hand) and Los Cinco Senores. In it, we see the wound of Christ, the blood of which is gushing into a chalice that feeds seven lambs, representing the seven sacraments. The figures are Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, Anne and Joaquin. Other details include a crowing cock, (which crowed when Peter betrayed Jesus), the lance which pierced Christ’s side, the cloth used to moisten Jesus’ lips with vinegar, and the whip used to torture him.

Retablos are a Mexican folk art based in earlier European traditions of saint worship. Generally, they are created in thanks to the saint to whom the petitioner has prayed to for help or blessings. Having been blessed, the retablo was made and placed on an altar and used again when the petitioner was in need. They were also given as gifts.

Retablos are important to Mexican folk religion because they are a physical representation of holy images such as Christ, the Virgin Mother, or one of the many thousands of saints. They come from the need to interact on a personal level with divine spirits. Retablos are evidentiary support for communication between the divine and humans. They are objects of personal devotion.

Before the Mexican revolution in 1821, the production of religious items and imagery was tightly controlled by the church and religious guilds. After the revolution, several things happened to loosen the strictures imposed by the church. The guilds were no longer dominant and folk art began to flourish. Also, Mexico began trading with countries other than Spain. Large amounts of tin were imported from both the US and England. This provided a cheap material for local artists to paint on; thus Retablos were born. The art of painted Retablos continued until 1900 or so.  Ordinary people were able to afford religious images for their home altars. Thousands of Retablos were made in their heyday. The main area of production were Guadalajara, Zacatecas and Guanajuato.

Oil paint on tin.

14.25” X 10”