San Antonio de Padua

NameRetablo

Place collectedNew Mexico, United States, North America

MediumTempera, gesso, pine wood

Dimensions31.3 x 18.5 cm, 1.6 cm thick

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, Gift of the Historical Society of New Mexico, A5.1952.88

Object numberA5.1952.88

ProvenanceAcquired from Miss Susan B. Norris in 1950. She purchased this with other items from New Mexico about 1925 and had them in Pasadena CA until 1950. It is not clear if this was bought by Miss Norris for $15.00 or from Miss Norris by the HSNM for $15.00?

DescriptionShell carved in relief at top, painted red and indigo. Figure has large head, diamond gown, with incised girdle. Holds Nino in left hand, holds what looks like quill pen in right hand. Shapes, such as an altar, drawn at left and right of different heights, in red, blue and black outlines, linear meander frames three sides above these. Dark blue border all round. Entire yeso ground mixed with tierra amarilla, or micaceous particles, but this background is light tan or cream color, not the usual brown in which tierra amarilla is found. Figures have very small hands, childlishly drawn, but command of all outlines was assured. Another curious feature is that the artist painted the faces with an overlayer of white paint instead of using the allover yeso ground for these areas. CF NFD -R-35, a very similar panel, same artist and subject, with red border carved in in relief and two carved finials outside of shell top. The latter panel has same micaceous particles in ground, same white overpainted faces, same pose, costume, cape, quill pen, (both of these meant to be Antonio's lily spray but look more like martyr's palm), only NFD-R-35's figure has no fancy pedestal to stand on. In both panels the only incised detail is the girdle. This feebly scratched in and in no way resembles the positive and decorative incising often used by the Calligraphic painter.