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19th C Mexican Santo Niño de Atocha Retablo Oil on Tin Religious Folk Art. Condition
Antique condition with substantial age-related wear. The painted surface has scattered paint loss, abrasions, spotting, discoloration and oxidation, including losses to the face, clothing and background. The hand-formed metal surround has oxidation, surface wear, bends and irregularities consistent with age and construction. The reverse is heavily oxidized. Preserved in as-found condition and has not been cleaned or restored. Please review all photographs carefully as they are an important part of the condition description.
Description
Antique 19th-century Mexican devotional retablo depicting Santo Niño de Atocha (The Holy Child of Atocha), hand painted on tin.
The Holy Child is shown seated on a chair wearing his distinctive pilgrim\'s hat and feather, holding a staff with attached gourd in one hand and a small basket in the other. Floral decorations surround the figure, with a painted curtain above and colorful decorative border below.
The painted tin panel is housed within an unusual hand-formed and folded metal surround. The metal has been individually cut, bent and rolled, including small tubular elements along the sides. A hole at the top allows the piece to be hung for display.
Measures approximately 10\" high × 7\" wide overall.
The painting retains its muted blue-green, red, pink, cream and ochre colors despite considerable age-related surface wear. The tin and surrounding metal show extensive oxidation and patina.
Unsigned, with no maker or artist markings found.
Santo Niño de Atocha was a popular subject of Mexican devotional folk art, and small painted tin retablos such as this were traditionally displayed in homes and private devotional settings.
An evocative surviving example of antique Mexican religious folk art, offered in its as-found condition with no cleaning or restoration performed.
Origin: Mexico
Period: 19th century
Medium: Hand-painted tin with hand-formed metal surround
Subject: Santo Niño de Atocha / Holy Child of Atocha
Approximate size: 10\" × 7\"
