Retablo, Holy Week (Semana Santa)

NameRetablo

Artist or maker Alfredo López Morales (Peruvian)

Date2015

Place madeHuamanga, Ayacucho, Peru, South America

MediumWood, paint, wheat flour, plaster, wax ,corn

Dimensions23 5/8 × 12 3/16 × 4 1/2 in. (60 × 31 × 11.5 cm)

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, museum purchase with funds from the JoAnn and Bob Balzer Folk Art Market Purchase Prize, 2016, A.2016.94.1

Object numberA.2016.94.1

DescriptionThis retablo outlines Semana Santa ( Holy Week ) in Ayacucho. The bottom level depicts Palm Sunday where palms are brought into the Plaza Mayor on the backs of donkeys and llamas. There is then a pagent enacting the triumphant arrival of Jesus and his apostles to Jerusalem. The middle level depicts Holy Wednesday (dia de encuentro) where Jesus of Nazareth and his suffering mother have been separated all year and meet on this day, atop processional floats made of wax flowers and corn. When they meet participants holding the processional floats aloft "nod" the floats toward each other three times, signifying the initiation of a conversation between Mary and Jesus. The top floor of the retablo depicts the Easter Sunday provession of the Throne of the Risen Christ.