Latin America, Mexico, Spanish Colonial, ca. 1885 CE. A fine antique Mexican ex-voto painting on heavy gauge tin depicting a woman kneeling in prayer to the Holy Mother as La Virgen de la Luz (the Virgin of Light). The Virgin Mary stands atop a billowing cloud, dressed in a long white robe with a blue mantle. With her left hand, she rescues a child from Hell, represented by the grinning devil visage below. In her right hand, she holds the Christ Child, who is picking flaming hearts (souls) from a basket held by an angel. Above the Virgin's head are two angels, holding a crown. Size: ~10" x 7" (25.4 x 17.8 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 Gallery, Santa Monica, CA.

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#109205

Minor bending and expected surface wear. Perforation at top center. Text has faded and is difficult to decipher.