**Originally Listed At $300**

New World, Mexico, ca. 19th century CE. An incredibly striking painted tin retablo (also known as a lamina) depicting a beautifully rendered face of Christ on Veronica's veil. His head is shown disembodied, with careful detail of the hair and eyes; he wears the crown of thorns and blood drips from myriad cuts, especially around his hairline. Although this is a work of folk art, the piece has been executed with a great deal of skill, by someone who obviously had a natural talent for painting. The story of Veronica's Veil (also known as the Sudarium) comes from Saint Veronica's encounter with Jesus on the Via Dolorosa. She used her veil to wipe the blood and sweat from his face and his image was imprinted onto the cloth. This story gained popularity in the Middle Ages and continues to be an important part of the story of Christ's final hours in the Catholic tradition. The retablo is mounted on a linen covered mat and framed with a wire for suspension. Size: 13.875" L x 10.25" W (35.2 cm x 26 cm); 19" L x 15" W (48.3 cm x 38.1 cm) with frame

Provenance: private San Francisco, California, USA collection

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#129365

Normal surface wear with minor paint losses; painting has darkened with age and shows surface deposits. Slight bending, a few small nicks to peripheries, and perforation at top center from former attachment. Frame dates later than retablo, but works well with the piece and shows only minor wear.