Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe

NameRetablo

Artist Artist Not Recorded

Place collectedAcoma, New Mexico, United States, North America

MediumTempera, gesso, pine wood

Dimensions41 cm x 22 cm overall, carved shell top. Rectangle: 31.5 x 22 cm 1 to 1.2 cm thick

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, gift of the Historical Society of New Mexico, A5.1957.18

Object numberA5.1957.18

ProvenanceAcquired with other items by exchange, from Tony Garcia, Maty 31, 1957. These were obtained by him from Acoma.

DescriptionShell top has five lobes and is carved with fifteen pointed tips at the edge, bordered in red. The lobes are alternate dark blue and red with rows of dots between. The panel shows the Guadalupe with a solid red nimbus behind the neatly drawn rays of light. At upper corners are a pair of leafy festoons and pink and red roses. Bottom of panel is filled by: left--kneelling male in profile, the Indian Juan Diego. He is smooth shaven, has hands clasped in prayer, and wear a black and rose edged tilma over a short shirt and with bare legs or tights. Center is filled by domed and scalloped forms in red and blue, intended to represent a church or basilica--obviously that of the Guadalupe. Above this is a row of seven pointed triangles drawn in wavy outlines and partly painted brown. Whether these were meant to represent rocks, hills, or merely a divider between the lower figures and the Guadalupe is speculative. At right sits Bishop Zumarrage in red mitre, red cloak over white robe, with clasped hands, on an episcopal "throne." This has an overhanding canopy in red and pink, shown in profile as well as the Bishop. Beneath but not connected with the canopy is the chair--shown by a vertical post at the back of the bishop---which ends in a heavy double scroll. No other part of the chair is indicated. Very pale blue colors some of the background of the small figures.