DepartmentHispano

Nuestra Senora del Carmen

NameRetablo

Artist Artist unrecorded

Place collectedNew Mexico, United States, North America

MediumHand-adzed pine panel with geso ground, tempera paint

Dimensions34.5 to 35 x 19 to 20 cm, 0.6 to 1.2 cm thick

Credit LineGift of the Historical Society of New Mexico

Object numberA5.1952.57

ProvenancePurchased with a lot of retablos from Julius Gans, June 1952 for $100.00. This includes numbers A5.1952.55 through A5.1952.82a. The amount of $100.00 was supplied by the Historical Society of New Mexico. Mr. Gans had this lot of retablos in this storerooms for more than 20 years without having them on display, and had, in fact, lost track of them until 1952. It was his wish to have them remain in the Museum in New Mexico which prompted him to make this exceedingly generous arrangement of the above token-price for the lot. See note A5.1952.82

DescriptionElongated figure in customary dress of this Advocation, holds the Nino in red dress and same crown as N.S., both Virgin and Infant hold the long scapularies with dark square ends which are attributes of this Virgin. Four 1/2-length souls gesticulate from the flames along bottom of panel (representing the souls in Purgatory). Dark solid swags of red, black and green at top and sides. This panel is exceedingly decorative in its light-dark values, its spacing, and its stylization. CV panel from Mary Austin collection L3.1951.5, very similar in composition but in better condition. This santero is very rare and most distinctive in his style.