VTG HP MEXICAN TIN RETABLO SAN PASCUAL BAILON HELPS COOKING TASTE GREAT in 1915 For Sale

FROM PUEBLA, MEXICO: fine example of vintage Mexican folk art #121
VINTAGE LARGE SIZE 9"x8" HAND-PAINTED TIN MEXICAN RETABLO (EX VOTO), signed BY RETABLERO. DATED 1915.* Judging by item's condition, most likely, painted in the late 1940th. It is common practice to thank patron saint by ordering retablo in gratitude for a favor rendered to family member in the distant past. Usually the retablos depicting San Pascual Bailon hang in the home kitchens for generations.
HIGHLY DETAILED TIN RETABLO, featuring SAN PASCUAL BAILON ("KITCHEN SAINT") *APPEARING KNEELING in THE CENTER of THE PAINTING, SURROUNDED by TRADITIONAL INTERIOR OF MEXICAN KITCHEN OF THE TIMES, COMPLETE WITH SMOKED HAM HANGING in THE LEFT SIDE;SOME ONIONS on THE SHELF AND VARIOUS KITCHEN UTENCILS AROUND HIM.
TEXT (loosely translated from Spanish): I DEDICATE THIS RETABLO WITH MUCH FERVOR TO SAN PASCUAL*IN GRATITUDE FOR IN MY KITCHEN SAN PASCUAL GIVES MY COOKING GREAT TASTE. PUEBLA, 1915
*SAN PASCUAL BAILON is ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR SAINTS IN MEXICO, BEING PATRON SAINT OF ALL KITCHENS & GIVING GREAT TASTE TO THE COOKING.
There is a hole provided for hanging on the wall.
The charming piece is in decent vintage condition; some surface losses/ imperfections due to age; backside has been painted to prevent rust, but with age the paint peeled and there is a lot of rust in the back; Large: 9" x 7".
A NOTE of HISTORY OF RETABLO FOLK ART:Votive paintings in Mexico go by several names in Spanish such as “ex voto,” “retablo” or “lamina,” which refer to their purpose. The painting of religious images to give thanks for a miracle or favor received, is part of a long tradition started in Europe. The form that most votive paintings take from the colonial period to the presentwas brought to Mexico by the Spanish. As in Europe, votive paintings began as static images of saints or other religious figures which were then donated to a church. Later, narrative images, telling the personal story of a miracle or favor received appeared. These paintings were first produced by the wealthy and often on canvas; also on wood; however, as sheets of tin became affordable, lower classes began to have these painted on this medium.The narrative version on metal sheets is now the traditional and representative form of votive paintings. Though some ex votos have been painted by the person receiving the miracle, most are made byretableros: commissioned artistswho interpret people's stories and produce these tokens of appreciation to be placed/hung on church walls or shrines, reinforcing the owner's devotion and gratitude.These lovely miracle paintings are in fact advertisements of the power and mercy of the saints.Due their proliferation, especially in the 18th and 19th century, many older votive paintings have left the places they were deposited and found their way into public and private collections.The collecting of tin retablos was begun by Mexican artistDiego Rivera, whose work, along with those of a number of other painters past and present, has been influenced by them.(See last photo, showing Diego and Frida's collection of antique Mexican retablos on display at Museo Frida Kahlo in Mexico City)

Hand-painted in Mexico

Dated 1915 (most likely, painted in late 1940's)

Signed by "retablero"

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