DepartmentHispano

Retablo

NamePainting

Maker Molleno (New Mexican, 1815 - 1845)

CultureHispanic-American

Dateearly 19th-mid 19th Century

Place madeNew Mexico, United States, North America

MediumPine

Dimensions20 1/16 × 60 5/8 × 1 3/8 in. (51 × 154 × 3.5 cm)

Credit LineMuseum of New Mexico, Gifts of r. Fathers of Ranchos de Taos Mission. 1953; Gift of R.F. Paul Hatch, pastor of Ranchos Mission since 1944, to the School of American Research. See notes for con't of credit:

Object numberA15.1953.1

DescriptionPanel has soft indigo and red painte swags along top, meanders and dot as border on bottom. Three skulls drawn without lower jaws form the principal design. The style of painting is that of Molleno, the "chile painter", who painted the large reredos in the N.E. transept of the Ranchos de Taos mission. Faint traces of floral motifs were formerly visible on the woodwork of the main or high altar also, and were of the same style. These have been covered by the new whit4 paint put on in October, 1953, during the general freshening of the church interior, under the supervison of Mr. Bert Phillips, Taos artist. It is therefore presumable that Molleno originally decorated most of the church, although whether or not he did the altarpiece formerly in the opposite transept, not lost, is not known. The two large bultos of Virgins, one weeping and one smiling, in the niche of the present transept altarpiece are laso in the style of Molleno, as far as surface decorations go. The large crucifix between these bultos has been oil painted, probably many years ago, so that its original style is not determinable.