Latin America, Mexico, dated 1953. A tin retablo depicting the cold blood shooting of a young man named Juan Mendoza. A dramatic painting with the assailant rounding the corner of a brick building and targeting the victim point blank in the chest. Above is the image of the Virgin of San Juan de los Lagos to whom this ex voto is dedicated as thanks for healing Juan Mendoza. The text generally translates, "The young Juan Mendoza, gravely wounded the year 1953, miraculously healed. I publically offer this retablo in gratitude to Our Lady, Virgin of San Juan de los Lagos (of the Lakes)." Size: 13-3/4" x 9-1/4" (34.9 x 23.5 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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#109738

Normal surface wear and scratches as shown. Some text scratched away, but most is legible.