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1866 Mexican Ex-Voto Retablo Giving Thanks for Healing, Oil on Tin

circa 1866

$1,750
£1,331.49
€1,534.15
CA$2,484.45
A$2,665.37
CHF 1,429.65
MX$32,090.73
NOK 18,022.43
SEK 16,433.96
DKK 11,462.16

About the Item

This evocative 19th-century Mexican ex-voto retablo, titled Giving Thanks for Saving Her Son, is a powerful example of devotional folk art created circa 1866. Painted in oil on tin by an anonymous Mexican artist, the work documents a mother’s heartfelt gratitude following the miraculous recovery of her gravely ill son. Rich in emotion and historical significance, the painting is accompanied by its original hand-painted inscription and presented in a contemporary custom frame handcrafted by artisan Michael Blatnik, designed to respectfully complement the historic surface. The narrative text records the plea of Refugio Cerrato, who, finding her son Luiz C. near death and without medical remedy, appealed to the Lord of the Blood of Christ. Her prayer was answered, and this retablo was offered in thanksgiving for divine mercy. Such inscriptions provide rare insight into 19th-century Mexican faith, language, and daily life, making each ex-voto a deeply personal historical document. Ex-votos were traditionally commissioned to fulfill a sacred vow following divine intervention and displayed publicly in churches as expressions of gratitude. After the vow was fulfilled, many were discarded or sold, making surviving examples increasingly scarce. Celebrated collectors such as Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo helped elevate ex-votos as important works of Mexican folk and vernacular art. This authentic 1866 ex-voto is both a compelling spiritual artifact and a highly collectible piece of Latin American cultural history, ideal for discerning collectors of folk, religious, and narrative art.
  • Creation Year:
    circa 1866
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 14.25 in (36.2 cm)Width: 10.25 in (26.04 cm)Depth: 0.5 in (1.27 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement Style:
  • Period:
  • Framing:
    Frame Included
    Framing Options Available
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Denver, CO
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 288571stDibs: LU27317395542

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