Mexican Retablos

"Mexican Folk Retablos", book by Gloria Fraser Giffords

Santa Rita

Red Cross Saint

I can't believe that I haven't blogged Mexican Retablos and Ex Votos before. I've always been in love with them. They are religious miniatures painted on tin, originating in the mid-1800's. Here are two fine examples - click images for larger view. I found them on a site called Mexican Retablos where they have descriptions and lots more images. The frames are often as interesting as the paintings. The more worn-down the piece, the better. These little paintings are very personal pieces of folk art. I have owned a copy of Gloria Gifford's book for many, many years.
"Santa Rita de Casia, patroness saint of desperate cases, is almost always portrayed as she is here, with a spot of blood and a thorn deeply imbedded in her forehead. As the story goes, in the year of 1441, during a sermon on the crown of thorns, Santa Rita prayed so intently that a thorn detached itself from her crucifix and lodged itself in her forehead." link
This is the website of a lovely-looking store in San Francisco called Colonial Arts, located at 463 Union St. in the heart of North Beach, San Francisco.
The Art of Amy Crehore