Latin America, Mexico, ca. late 19th century. A charming pair of framed retablos, both skillfully painted on heavy gauge tin. The first one depicts San Roque (Saint Roch) the patron saint of dogs, kneeling with hands pressed together in prayer and a charming dog at this feet. San Roque presents with a sensitively rendered haloed face, and wears his characteristic pilgrim outfit. The second retablo depicts El Nino de Atocha shown in his traditional capelet and brimmed hat, with a traveler's staff in his left hand and a basket of bread in his right hand. El Nino de Atocha stands between two vases of roses, and the color palette and style draw from an earlier Baroque tradition. The tradition of the child may be traced back to a suburb of Madrid, where prisoners of the faith were said to have been visited and nourished by a young boy dressed as a wandering pilgrim. Because of the miraculous nature of the child's appearance, this subject has traditionally been interpreted as a manifestation of the Child Jesus. Size of largest (San Roque): 6.875" W x 9.75" H (17.5 cm x 24.8 cm); (frame): 10.2" W x 13.125" H (25.9 cm x 33.3 cm)

San Roque (also Saint Roch or Saint Rocco) was born in France during the 14th century. Notably pious from birth, he distributed all his worldly goods at the age of twenty and embarked upon a pilgrimage to Rome. In Italy, he tended to the sick during a plague epidemic. Falling ill with the plague himself, he was expelled from the town and went to live in the forest, where he was miraculously able to find water, and a dog brought him bread. The dog depicted here represents that story.

El Nino de Atocha, among the most popular subjects in Mexican retablo art, is the patron saint who frees prisoners, and performs miracles for travelers as well as those in danger. Imagery of the saint originated in Spain after the Moors invaded the town of Atocha. According to legend, a prison was filled with Christians lacking fundamental necessities like food and water. Only missionary children were permitted to visit these prisoners, and one day after family members prayed intensely, a child dressed as a pilgrim and carrying a basket, a staff, and a gourd full of water appeared. He then served everyone in the prison; however, miraculously, his basket and gourd were still full. This miraculous visitation led believers to regard him as the Infant Jesus.

Provenance: ex-private Gloria and Richard Manney collection, New York, USA

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#161412

Both retablos have slight bending to overall forms and light abrasions to pigmentation, otherwise intact and very good. Nice preservation to obverse pigment. Frames with metal wires on verso for mounting purposes.