Mexican Ex-voto dated 1942 from Considered Trifles
Baskets of beautifully and delicately painted flowers adorn a market scene. Prone in the middle, a woman lays with her head in the lap of another while a small boy looks on. The Virgin appears as if in a cloud. She is accompanied by cherub angels on either side who hold a dark pink ribbon unfurled above her head. She wears a royal blue cape, a gold crown, and she stands in a gold quarter moon dais. A prayer at the bottom written in Spanish is signed off “19 de junio de 1942”
The ex-voto is a good example of a tradition in Mexico that continues to flourish. Ex-voto means “from a vow”. In this instance, the vow was made at the time of the incident depicted. A little boy and his mother were selling flowers in the plaza when the mother collapsed. The boy was frightened she might be dead and he appealed to the virgin for help. In the meantime, another little boy, pictured at the back of the ex-voto ran to a doctor for help. His mother was revived. The vow that was made is essentially, “please help me and I will honor you with a painting that shows you are kind and powerful” The family went to a local Santero who painted the scene. The ex-voto was probably placed in the local church or a shrine to the Virgin. It follows a typical style in that it contains 3 elements: the scene, a written description below the scene, and the Virgin.
Painted on metal (unknown type), this is a faithfully conserved piece. The colors and vibrancy are fresh and the skill of the painter is evident in proportion and detail. There are some spots of rust that are consistent with the age of the piece but these only add to the over all beauty. Four pin holes in the corners allow this ex-voto to be displayed on a wall or door.
10” X 11”
Baskets of beautifully and delicately painted flowers adorn a market scene. Prone in the middle, a woman lays with her head in the lap of another while a small boy looks on. The Virgin appears as if in a cloud. She is accompanied by cherub angels on either side who hold a dark pink ribbon unfurled above her head. She wears a royal blue cape, a gold crown, and she stands in a gold quarter moon dais. A prayer at the bottom written in Spanish is signed off “19 de junio de 1942”
The ex-voto is a good example of a tradition in Mexico that continues to flourish. Ex-voto means “from a vow”. In this instance, the vow was made at the time of the incident depicted. A little boy and his mother were selling flowers in the plaza when the mother collapsed. The boy was frightened she might be dead and he appealed to the virgin for help. In the meantime, another little boy, pictured at the back of the ex-voto ran to a doctor for help. His mother was revived. The vow that was made is essentially, “please help me and I will honor you with a painting that shows you are kind and powerful” The family went to a local Santero who painted the scene. The ex-voto was probably placed in the local church or a shrine to the Virgin. It follows a typical style in that it contains 3 elements: the scene, a written description below the scene, and the Virgin.
Painted on metal (unknown type), this is a faithfully conserved piece. The colors and vibrancy are fresh and the skill of the painter is evident in proportion and detail. There are some spots of rust that are consistent with the age of the piece but these only add to the over all beauty. Four pin holes in the corners allow this ex-voto to be displayed on a wall or door.
10” X 11”
Baskets of beautifully and delicately painted flowers adorn a market scene. Prone in the middle, a woman lays with her head in the lap of another while a small boy looks on. The Virgin appears as if in a cloud. She is accompanied by cherub angels on either side who hold a dark pink ribbon unfurled above her head. She wears a royal blue cape, a gold crown, and she stands in a gold quarter moon dais. A prayer at the bottom written in Spanish is signed off “19 de junio de 1942”
The ex-voto is a good example of a tradition in Mexico that continues to flourish. Ex-voto means “from a vow”. In this instance, the vow was made at the time of the incident depicted. A little boy and his mother were selling flowers in the plaza when the mother collapsed. The boy was frightened she might be dead and he appealed to the virgin for help. In the meantime, another little boy, pictured at the back of the ex-voto ran to a doctor for help. His mother was revived. The vow that was made is essentially, “please help me and I will honor you with a painting that shows you are kind and powerful” The family went to a local Santero who painted the scene. The ex-voto was probably placed in the local church or a shrine to the Virgin. It follows a typical style in that it contains 3 elements: the scene, a written description below the scene, and the Virgin.
Painted on metal (unknown type), this is a faithfully conserved piece. The colors and vibrancy are fresh and the skill of the painter is evident in proportion and detail. There are some spots of rust that are consistent with the age of the piece but these only add to the over all beauty. Four pin holes in the corners allow this ex-voto to be displayed on a wall or door.
10” X 11”