Description
This is a charming, antique 1800s, religious, folk art, Retablo, original, oil painting on tin depicting the Mexican Nicho Icon "El Santo Nino De Atocha also known as "The Holy Infant of Atocha". This is a Roman Catholic image of the Christ Child popular among Hispanic cultures. It is an unsigned, rectangular painting & measures 7x10 inches in size. The devotion derives from Atocha, Spain originally. This traditional, Mexican, hand-painted, religious art is primitively painted in very, dark colors. This painting features the traditional iconography of the Santo Nino with the child sitting in a chair wearing a long robe & hat while holding a basket in his right hand & a Pilgrims staff in his left hand. The necklace around his neck is probably depicting scallop shells which are a symbol of a pilgrimage to Saint James. A vase of flowers is placed on either side while surrounded by an arched drapery. Note the haunting, big eyes, the halo around his head, the embroidered cape, the long feather plume in his hat & his bare feet. The tin panel has a tiny hole at the top where these were usually hung on the wall unframed over a nail. The legend states that during the Moorish occupation of Spain, the Moors prohibited anyone other than children from visiting Christians in prison. So one day a child dressed as a pilgrim visited the prison carrying a staff, a basket of food & a flask of water. After he distributed the food & water to the prisoners, the basket & flask were still full. It was understood that this was a miraculous visit from the Christ Child. These depictions are still made today. Why not start a collection of these wonderful Retablos & make a grouping on the wall. The camera unfortunately does not portray the photos with equal, color tones, so FYI please be fully aware it is a very, dark painting. Anyway this painting shows a great deal of age-related wear including dents, dings, rust, loss of paint & mangled corners. Please check out all the photos before purchasing as this item is certainly not perfect & is NOT returnable. This item will require a signature upon delivery. (12/21) 1800S Religious Tin Retablo Portrait Oil Painting/"Santo Nino De Atocha"/Hp Mexican Nicho Icon/Primitive/Unframed 7x10"/Vintage Antique
