As you know by now, I've always got an eye out for old retablos, good in so many different ways, this one purchased from a seller in California--and which really won me for the wonderful handling of the architecture of the space our bed-ridden man inhabits; that perspectively rendered striped ceiling and bricked floor totally do it for me. And then the appearance of Santiago Matamomo (St. James the Moor Slayer), who I don't see too often! (Santiago Matamoros is a depiction of the apostle James the Greater as a warrior, who, according to legend, appeared to aid the Christian forces against the Muslim Moors during the Battle of Clavijo in the 9th century.) He and his horse feel just right to me here, galloping across the blank wall of the cell, sword raised and clouds underfoot, as if about to pull our very ailing looking man out of bed, and off and away. I really love the exposed red end of the pillow and delicately painted green headboard, too, and the way the rust comes through the white paint around him.
10" x 7 1/4" painted on tin, good antique condition, with some rust showing through, very much all to the good. Early 20th century I believe. Never inscribed, which I think is a good thing here, with the blankness of the white painted strip along the bottom feeling part of the architecture/framing of the view of the scene.
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