Retablo

NameRetablo

Maker Pedro Antonio Fresquis (1749-1831)

Place madeNew Mexico, United States, North America

MediumTempera, gesso, wood

Dimensions58 x 19 to 21 cm, 2 to 2.5 cm thick. Originally cut with semicircular top over squared corners. Rectangular area of panel now 45 cm long x 21 cm wide.

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, gift of the Historical Society of New Mexico, A5.1956.1

Object numberA5.1956.1

DescriptionTempera on yeso over applied wood strips and wooden head carved in half round, on hand adzed pine panel. Figure in long dark gown with ruffled hem biretta and black shoes with low heels is in partial relief. The head is of carved pine under yeso with points of the biretta apparently of gesso, while the clothing is indicated by wood strips, 5 cm to 1.5 cm wide, outlining the shoulders, arms, outsides of skirt and one strip down center to indicate fold from waist to hem, and hem itself. The feet are simply painted on the flat panel without relief, while the palm that he holds (sic) is in relief in a wormy ridge 9 cm long, from hand to 5 cm from its tip. This appears to be yeso relief judging from the undulations over the arms and down to the flat panel. the rest of the palm is boldly painted in flat color, green with fine black fronds. From this level up the panel has a large light yellow area extending to the top of the arch and serving as a light background for the dark figures above his elbows. A circular halo is outlined in black around the head. Above the whole light area is filled by the nervously brushed red and black flame--like elements so often found in the panels by the Calligraphic santero. A fluttering banner in red and yellow with black outlines crosses the upper arc of the light area from left to extreme right. It starts from a cross in relief which seems to have been the finial to a monstrance or shield-shaped device held in the figure's right hand, now mostly lost. Right side of figure has light area beside it witha slender red-leafed plant. Left side of figure from knee level to palm is flanked by an olive green area also filled with red and black flame motifs of larger scale than those above. A band of diagonal tile or marbled design separates this from a gorgon shape with human head and short, recurved bird-legs growing from a pot-bellied body. Incised lines in the yeso indicate that it was intended to have short wings. The face is also outlined by incised lines. It is of the same light moss green color as the foreground with darker green shading on the cheeks, a large red mouth and wide open, human eyes. Symbolism? Lettered in script along the bottom is: "Inasio, de Nollola." (sic).In the same style of lettering as other panels by the Calligraphic painter. Due to the lost part of the panel, part of the inscription is also lost.