Ex Voto; Holy Tribute for the Healing from Falling off the Church Bell Tower., Retablo, dated 1934

Ex Voto; Holy Tribute for the Healing from Falling off the Church Bell Tower. Oil on tin with ink, 1934, anonymous Mexican artist with a contemporary custom frame hand-carved by artisan Michael Blatnik. Ex-Voto is 10 inches diameter and outer framed dimension is 17 ¼ x 17 ¼ inches.

Al estar reabriendo la media nave nja de la torre en la capilla de San Pedro y San Pablo, en un descuido mi peon Don Broulio Diaz Chimal al levantarse rapidimente tropezo, para atras y se pue para abajo como de ocho metros hasta caer en el techo de la capilla, callendo sobre las tables y aunque unas se rompieron impidieron que Don Broulios se lastimara aunque estube encamado varios dias quedo bien.
A nombre de su esposa Altagracia y sus hijos mandamos hacer este testimonio de agradeciendo a la santicima Virgen Maria de Guadalupe que se venera en la villa por aberlo salvada. Altagracia Villelo Ortiz Broulio y Mariana Diez Villela.
Cholula, Puebla, MCMXXXIV J.T.S.

Translation from Spanish: While we were reopening the half-nave of the tower in the Chapel of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, in a moment of carelessness, my assistant Don Broulio Diaz Chimal rose too quickly and stumbled backward. He fell a distance of approximately eight meters, landing on the roof of the chapel. Although he crashed through the wooden planks, they cushioned his fall and prevented Don Broulio from sustaining serious injury; and, although he was confined to bed for several days, he made a full recovery.
On behalf of his wife, Altagracia, and their children, we have commissioned this testimony of gratitude to the Most Holy Virgin Mary of Guadalupe who is venerated in this town for having saved him. Altagracia Villelo Ortiz; Broulio and Mariana Diez Villela.
Cholula, Puebla, MCMXXXIV. J.T.S.

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