**First Time At Auction**

Latin America, Spanish Colonial, Mexico, ca. late 19th century CE. A dramatic, hand-painted gauge tin retablo depicting Saint Camillus de Lellis (also Camillo, San Camilo) in his black habit attending to a man on his deathbed. Delivering Last Rites, the saint hovers over the dying man, holding a crucifix in one hand and a paper inscribed "Creo en Dios" or "I believe in God." Though dying, the man holds a candle in one hand, perhaps to aid in reading. Demons loom throughout the image - one in each window, another at the foot of the bed, and a 3-headed snake at the bottom - all vying for the dying man's soul. The cross held by Saint Camillus alludes to a story in which the cross spoke to him and asked, "Why are you afraid? Do you not realize that this is not your work but mine?" which has become the motto associated with De Lellis, as well as healthcare workers who were inspired by him. Size: 8" W x 11.3" H (20.3 cm x 28.7 cm)

Saint Camillus is oftentimes called the "Red Cross Saint" for obvious reasons. He was the founder of the Ministers of the Sick where he instituted humane hospital treatment. In addition, his order wore a red cross on the right breast of their black habit as we see depicted in this retablo. Early in life, Camillus was rather dissolute - a gambler, he lost everything that he owned. Seeing the error of his ways, he devoted himself to the Franciscan Order and accepted work as a laborer at the Capucin buildings at Manfredonia where he completed his conversion. He attempted to enter the novitiate of the Franciscans but was turned away, because of his diseased leg. And so he returned to the hospital of San Giacomo, where he had been treated previously and devoted himself to treating the ill.

Provenance: private Oglesby, Illinois, USA collection, acquired in the 1990s from various Western US auction galleries

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#184319

Minor chipping to corners and light wrinkling in areas as well as miniscule tear to upper right. Some nicks and abrasions but imagery is still clear. Otherwise, intact and very nice with rich patina.