DepartmentHispano

San Rafael Arcangel

NameRetablo

Artist Artist unrecorded

Place collectedNew Mexico, United States, North America

MediumWood, gesso, paint

DimensionsOverall: 13 3/8 x 9 13/16 x 1/2 in. (34 x 25 x 1.2 cm)

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, Gift of the Historical Society of New Mexico, A5.1952.63

Object numberA5.1952.63

ProvenancePurchased with a lot of retablos from Julius Gans.

DescriptionFigure in usual barelegged dress of N.M. archangal images, red and bluish green tunic lined with orange, fancy red and white rosettes at belt and knees. Gaiters of what may represent lacings, bare toes. Crown of flowers like cactus, small cross at top. Figure holds usual fish and staff with narrow red banner. Moldings and background painted in red and pink swirls. This is in a very decorative, naive manner which is seldom seen but most recognizable. CF CW-R-100, CDC-SR-2016, quite similar in every way. CW-R-t0 and CW-R-107 may prove to be part of this series. Characteristics are: very mat and gritty feeling yeso surface, usually well applied so it has lasted well; abstract treatment of parts of forms and color areas, disregarding meaning, use of high-keyed reds, orange and bluish green, and eyes drawn with curve dowwnwards from corners instead of up. Another trait is the habit of making outlines in dark brown or red brown, dark blue, etc. In the case of this panel of Rafael, a small amount of black is used in outines (really dark brown), but as a rule the outlines are lighter in value. The panels are delightful in line, color and spacing, and the santero seems to have either made very few to my knowledge, or they have not survived. All of these panels listsed above have been acquired since 1946 by their owners. I do not recall having seen any such prior to that date. The gamut of reds suggests that vermillion, iron oxide and cochineal may all have been used. However, in cleaning all of these, it is noticed that the reds are all fast in A5.1952.63, CW-R-100, and CDC-SR-2016 and not fugitive as is sometimes the case when exposed to cleaning solvents.