DAY 27

ART AROUND THE WORLD

Retablos and Ex-votos Paintings

IMAGES OF DEVOTION

Retablos and ex-votos represent two unique hybrid genres of art, where the religious themes and iconography of Catholicism fuse with the traditional folk art styles of Mexico, and Latin and Central America. Retablos, from “retablo,” which is literally translated “behind the altar,” are small, multi-paneled oil paintings on wood depicting Christ, the Virgin Mary, or any one of the multitude of Catholic saints. Ex-votos, from the Latin “from a vow,” are paintings on tin or canvas offered as thanks to particular saints who have helped an individual in a specific way. Found at pilgrimage sites or domestic shrines, these small paintings traditionally include a short illustrated testimonial featuring the saint and the exact date and time the miracle occurred.

Both art forms shared similar themes and iconography, but developed from different traditions and purposes. The Church used retablos after the 16^th century as storytelling aids in an attempt to convert the mostly illiterate indigenous populations to Christianity. Conversely, ex-votos developed out of a strong pre-Columbian votive tradition; the themes and narratives of Aztec deities overlapped with images of the Catholic saints, of which the Church strongly disapproved. The unique artistry of ex-votos involved bold, deeply saturated colors and the use of mixed media, setting it apart from the more conventional retablos paintings.

Both retablos and ex-voto folk art spread north to what is now the American Southwest during the 18^th and 19^th centuries. The largest public collection of retablos in the US is in the art collection of New Mexico State University, which houses more than 1,700 objects. —SBR