Retablos

Originally uploaded by bleak!

Retablos are small pictures of saints and of Christ painted on tin, copper, wood and on other surfaces. In the past, they were created by artists for the consumption of Catholic devotees. These artists were usually anonymous, as only a handful ever signed their works. They view their works not as artworks rather as devotional objects that are meant to help a devotee pray. Retablos are catechetical
tools.
Retablos, or laminas, were created in vast quantities. The art of making Retablos was specially prolific and popular in Mexico and Latin America. Retablos were also made in the American Southwest. Most were made by local amateur painters out of necessity because of their distance from Mexico. Surprisingly, nowhere today is the art of Retablo enjoying a huge popularity than in New Mexico. Today, there are many New Mexican retablo makers, twice fold than it used to be centuries ago. The art form also reached the shores of the Philippines. Though Santos, statues of saints, proved to be more favored by devotees in this Catholic Asian nation.

Pictured here are two retablos of Sta. Maria Magdalena and Señor San José. It's been almost a year since I started painting them. Unfortunately, like with my other paintings, they've been put in the back burner. But, I am more than excited to finish them this summer.

Painting retablos is quite formulaic. Saints each have their own attributes, symbols, that must be present in all of their likeness. These attributes help a devotee to be able to identify a particular saint. Eliminating one attribute from a likeness of a saint, or even adding one, could lead the devotee and viewer in confusion.

For example, Santa Barbara and Santa Catalina de Alejandría are two popular ancient saints with similar attributes. Both carry palms and swords as symbols of their martyrdom. And both can also wear crowns, either as an allusion to their wealthy background, royal birth, or to their sanctity. But what set these two apart are the other attributes they carry or are illustrated with them. Santa Catalina is always shown with a spiked wheel, either broken or whole. This is a reference to an instrument of torture her scorned suitor, Emperor Maxentius, devised for her in her non acceptance of his proposal and of her refusal to denounce her Christian faith.
Barbara, on the other hand, is shown with a small tower with three windows. This is the tower where she was locked up by her Pagan father. And the three windows themselves, symbolize the Holy Trinity, making Barbara's tower a symbol within a symbol.

Retablos are not just pictures of saints. They serve as windows to heaven, offering the devotees here on earth a glimpse of celestial delight, of the promised paradise here after.


Text & Photos Victor Ancheta ©2009

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