Ex Voto; Holy Tribute for Saving a Brother, Retablo, circa 1925

Ex Voto; Holy Tribute for Saving a Brother. Oil on tin with ink, circa 1925, anonymous Mexican artist with a contemporary custom frame hand-carved by artisan Michael Blatnik. Ex-Voto is 10 ¾ x 7 ¼ inches and the outer framed dimension is 20 ¼ x 15 ¾ inches.

Doy gracias al Sr. Los Milagros por haberme consedido que mi hermano, Gilberto Hernandez, quedara con vida despues de una tromboder y espero que me siga oyendo para su completa recilparacion M. th. De V

Translated from the Spanish; I thank Jesus, the Holy one of Miracles for answering my prayers that my brother Gilberto Hernandez will live after having a blood clot, and I hope that he continues to hear my prayers for his complete recovery. M. th. De V.

What is an Ex-Voto?
When a person survived a life-threatening situation or personal calamity, they would subsequently hire an artist to depict their story of diving intervention. They were created to offer thanks to the saint or deity who healed them and were considered an object given as a fulfilment of a vow. Although ex-votos originated as simple images of saints, eventually they were embellished with a short narrative describing the miracle that transpired. Once completed, these accounts would hang in the church as public professions of gratitude or faith. After a year, the vow was considered fulfilled and the ex-voto would be destroyed or sold.

Diego Rivera and Frida Kaho were avid collectors of ex-votos and because of their interest this wonderful form of folk art became popular among artists and aficionados alike.