Latin America, Mexico, ca. 1924 CE. An oil on heavy gauge tin Mexican ex voto depicting a dramatic accident in which a young man's fingers are burned in an explosion. A woman and two children, presumably the vicitim's family, is running out of their home, the woman's hands raised in horror as she is witnessing the horrific accident, her children clinging to her side. The dramatic scene is set before a lovely setting with trees delineated in an Impressionistic style to the left and a lovely clay-walled casita with Spanish tiled roof.

To the right is a vision of Our Lady of Guadalupe to whom this ex voto is dedicated in gratitude for healing the victim. In retablo art, the Virgin Guadalupe is represented as a praying Madonna with a tilted head and gently curving body, with hands pressed together in a prayerful gesture and lowered eyes. She is surrounded by a mandorla comprised of golden rays and stands upon a crescent moon that is supported by a cherub. This composition was adopted from medieval illustrations of the Apocalyptic Woman and may be traced back to the 10th and 11th centuries. Her garments traditionally include a blue mantle with gold stars and trim and a red robe enriched with golden embroidery (here the red pigment has faded). In addition, the cherub with Byzantine like wings who appears beneath her is also a constant in renditions of the Virgin Guadalupe.

The text below has faded and is tricky to decipher; however, it is possible to read the date of the incident (December 15, 1924) at the opening and get the gyst of the details of the incident as described above. A beautiful example of Mexican folk art with strong European influences. Size: 13" x 8-1/4" (33 x 21 cm)

Ex-votos are narrative paintings indicative of healing or blessing popular in Mexican visual culture. This tradition was inspired by the Greeks and was brought to the New World by the Spaniards. These votive paintings were hung in a church or placed adjacent to an image in order to celebrate and give thanks for the recovery of the donor from an illness or dangerous situation. In essence, ex-votos represent the spiritual or physical gains received by the donor. These paintings include hand painted passages that relate the details of the cure or the rescue. Oftentimes, however, this commentary is replete with regional dialect and difficult to translate. Nevertheless, if you are familiar with the Spanish language, you will probably get the gyst of these anecdotal paintings.

Provenance: Ex-Historia Antiques, James Caswell, Santa Monica, CA

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#110001

Very minor nicks to top corners. Perforation at top center for suspension. Normal surface wear, paint loss, and oxidation. Text has faded a bit.