Ex-Voto; Offering in Thanks for the Healing of a Gall Bladder Illness, Retablo, circa 1930

Ex-Voto; Offering in Thanks for the Healing of a Gall Bladder Illness. Oil on tin, circa 1866. Anonymous Mexican artist with a contemporary custom frame handcrafted by artisan Michael Blatnik.

The text reads: "Estamido grabe mente enfermica de la vilis me encomende al santo nino del Fonguito y hubo de recobrar mi alivio y gracias a Dios por ma de sus marabillas por tanto de dieo a la venerable imagen eso presente retablo publicaredo este milagro. felisa rodriguez (Coahuila)"."

Translation from Spanish: " I suffered a serious illness in my gallbladder, and I entrusted myself to the Holy Child of Fonguito. I recovered, to my great relief, and give thanks to God for this miracle. Therefore, I present this retablo to the Holy Child (Santo Niño) in gratitude for His blessing. Felisa Rodriguez (Coahuila)."

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.