Mexican Retablo Depicting Saint Francisco, Framed

A bearded man in a dark habit holds a slim staff in a frame with ornate leaf carving

This Retablo depicting saint francisco 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 small half-length portrait of a bearded man in a dark cloak over a tan robe, holding a thin rod. The background is a smoky olive. A wide cream mat and a gilt frame with a leaf pattern surround it. It is 18 inches wide and 22.5 high.

Soft brown tones and a very patient expression.