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Unknown1930s Mexican Ex Voto Retablo – Healing Miracle After Fall from Church Tower1934
1934
About the Item
An extraordinary example of Mexican devotional folk art, this 1934 oil and ink painting on tin—known as an Ex Voto—depicts a miraculous healing following a life-threatening fall from a church bell tower. Created by an anonymous Mexican artist, this retablo is a visual tribute to the Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, offered in gratitude for divine intervention.
The artwork measures 10 inches in diameter and is housed in a contemporary hand-carved custom frame by artisan Michael Blatnik, bringing the outer framed dimensions to 17.25 x 17.25 inches.
The Narrative (translated from the original Spanish inscription):
While reopening the lower nave of the tower in the Chapel of San Pedro y San Pablo in Cholula, Puebla, a laborer named Don Broulio Díaz Chimal stumbled and fell nearly eight meters onto the chapel roof. Miraculously, the wooden beams broke his fall and prevented serious injury. Though bedridden for several days, he made a full recovery. In thanksgiving, his wife Altagracia Villelo Ortiz, along with their children, commissioned this Ex Voto to honor the Holy Virgin Mary of Guadalupe for her divine protection.
What is an Ex Voto?
Ex Votos are traditional votive paintings offered in gratitude for surviving illness, accidents, or other crises. Typically painted on tin or wood, these folk artworks include a visual depiction of the event and a written testimonial of the miracle. Commissioned by everyday people, they were displayed in churches or shrines as a public declaration of faith. Ex Votos are now widely collected for their heartfelt narratives, folk style, and religious significance.
Collectors’ Note:
Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera were passionate collectors of Ex Votos, helping elevate these devotional pieces into the world of fine and outsider art. This rare and beautifully preserved retablo is a powerful example of Mexican religious folk art from the early 20th century and is ideal for collectors of Latin American art, outsider art, or spiritual artifacts.
- Creation Year:1934
- Dimensions:Height: 17.25 in (43.82 cm)Width: 17.25 in (43.82 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Framing:Frame IncludedFraming Options Available
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Denver, CO
- Reference Number:Seller: 285711stDibs: LU27316339622
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