Ex-Voto; Giving Thanks to St. Francis of Assisi for Returning Our Home, Retablo, dated 1955

Ex-Voto; Giving Thanks to St. Francis of Assisi for Returning Our Home, dated 1955. Anonymous Mexican artist with a contemporary custom frame handcrafted by artisan Michael Blatnik.

The text reads:"A San Francisco de Asisi damas infinitas gracias por veal fin nos devoluteron la casa porque es lo unico que tenamos yasi podemos Volver a mira la y esperara merir tranquilas las es por eso que como agradecimiento a sedemos nuestra popiedad para tu convento. ala orden de gente como nosotras Cholita y Francisca Diaz. Hoy es MCML Juanajato"

Translation from Spanish:"To Saint Francis of Assisi, infinite thanks for finally returning our house, because it was the only thing we had, and now we can return to it and wait to live peacefully. That is why, as a token of gratitude, we are giving our property to your convent, at the service of people like us, Cholita and Francisca Diaz. Today is 1955, Guanajuato"

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.