Latin America, Mexico, ca. 19th century CE. A colorful 19th century Mexican Folk retablo representing 'La Cruz de Animas', or 'The Cross of Souls'. Layered with symbolic and allegorical imagery, the Cross of Souls represents Christ on the cross, flanked by the sun and moon and surmounted by the Eternal Father above. At the very bottom are small vignettes of Adam and Eve, the monstrance, and Death at the bed of a sick person, iconography that highlights the themes of judgement and redemption. This example is unusual as typically ten 'anima sola' (lonesome departed ancestral souls) plead for salvation while awaiting judgement in the flames of purgatory along the bottom of such compositions. Perhaps the artist omitted this aspect in order to fit the work in the well-crafted, free-standing, glass-fronted, tin nicho which is painted a rich shade of teal. Size: 9.25" W x 13" H (23.5 cm x 33 cm)

Provenance: Ex-Pachamama Gallery, Santa Fe, NM collection.

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#115820

Minor bending to the nicho and a bit of paint loss as shown.