Special Collections Research Center
spcoll@wm.eduWilliam & Mary Special Collections Staff
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Preferred Citation
Mexican retablo and ex-voto paintings, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased with the assistance of the Christian Family Endowment.
Content Description
5 Retablo or ex-voto paintings depicting themes that include Covid-19, immigration, migration, illness and traditional dance. Retablo is the Spanish term for relatable or reredos above an spiritual, often Catholic, altar. Retablo paintings are a form of folk art that depict iconography including saints and other religious figures derived from the Catholic church. Ex-voto paintings are votive paintings offered to a saint or divinity. Ex-voto paintings typically depict oppressive incidents in which an individual survives. Paintings are by Gonzalo Palacios and Flor Palomares.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by file.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Art and religion
- Art, Mexican
- Painting
- Religious art
- Spiritual life in art
- Votive offerings in art
Container List
Text on ex-voto reads:
Español: Me encontraba yo tan enfermo en el hospital que los médicos ya nome daban esperanzas de vida. Agradezco a Nuestro Señor Jesucristo que, con su infinita misericordia, me haya devuelto la salud obrando en mí, un milagro. Bendito sea. 2021.
[English translation: I was so ill in the hospital that the doctors no longer gave me hope of life. I thank our lord Jesus Christ that, with his infinite mercy, he has restored my health, working a miracle in me. Blessed be. 2021.]
Text on ex-voto reads:
Español: Le pedimos fervientemente con el presente exvoto a San Rogue de que la variante Delta y las otras variantes del virus del COVID-19 se puedan controlar y así todas las personas del mundo podamos regresar a vivir sin miedo como era antes de esta pandemia. 2021.
[English translation: We ask you with this ex-voto to San Roque that the Delta variant and the other variants of the COVID-19 virus can be controlled so that all the people of the world can return to live without fear as it was before the pandemic. 2021.]
Text on ex-voto reads:
Español: De todo corazón damos las gracias a la Virgencita de Guadalupe por acompañarnos mientras cruzábamos la frontera mi hermanito y yo, ya que queríamos volver a ver a nuestra mamá que hace años se fué a los Estados Unidos a trabajar, dejándonos con nuestra abuelita. Ahora, gracias a su divina misericordia sobrevivimos al desierto y pudimos reencontrarnos con mamá. Teodoro y Jacinto Ríos. Sonora, México.
[English translation: We wholeheartedly thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for accompanying us as we crossed the border, my little brother and I, since we wanted to see our mother again, who years ago went to the United States to work, leaving us with our grandmother. Now, thanks to her divine mercy, we survived the desert and were able to meet mom again. Teodoro and Jacinto Rios. Sonora, Mexico.]
Text on ex-voto reads:
Español: Delfina Rosales dedica el presente retablito con profundo agradecimiento a la Virgencita de Guadalupe por concederle su sueño de participar en el festival de la Guelaguetza bailando con sus amigas el famoso y colorido "Baile de la Flor de Pina, ya que le emociona el formar parte de tan importante y bella tradición. Oaxaca, México.
[English translation: Delfina Rosales dedicates this little altarpiece with deep gratitude to the Virgencita de Guadalupe for granting her dream of participating in the Guelaguetza festival by dancing with her friends the famous and colorful "Dance of the Pineapple Flower," as she is excited to be part of such an important and beautiful tradition. Oaxaca, Mexico.]
Text on retablo reads:
Español: Agradezco de todo corazón con este sencillo retablito a San Roque porque por fin ya se está controlando la pandemia y así ya pude volver a salir a trabajar de organillero. Fué mas de un año que no podíamos salir a las calles y tuve que hacer cuarentena en casa, pero ahora ya puedo trabajar para poder dalir adelante. CDMX, 2021.
[English translation: I thank San Roque with all my heart with this simple altarpiece because the pandemic is finally being controlled and so I was able to go back to work as an organ grinder. It was more than a year that we could not go out on the streets and I had to quarantine at home, but now I can work to earn an income. CDMX 2021.]