Mexican Retablo Depicting Our Lady, Refuge of Sinners

A crowned woman and child under golden rays, ringed by painted flowers

This Retablo depicting our lady, refuge of sinners is from Mexico, and dates to the 19th century. It is paint & tin. The word retablo comes from Latin words generally taken to mean behind the altar, recalling European altarpieces that grew from carved and painted panels of Christ, the Virgin Mary and saints. A close portrait of a crowned woman in a red bodice holding a crowned child. Gold rays radiate behind each head, and a dark green ground is edged with small painted flowers. Flaking and small paint losses show in the red and the surface. It is 11.9 inches wide and 15.3 high.

The flowers kept their cheer while the paint wandered off.