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Retablos are intriguing combinations of religious symbols from the Christian/Spanish/Mexican colonial-era.
I assume the Mexicans or Central American Catholocized Indians used a variety of entheogens in conjunction with Catholicism, inspiring these "icons" or rather, symbol-filled religious picture-diagrams. I don't even have a word for these -- they are not the same as Eastern orthodox icons or European religious paintings -- they are more explicitly symbolic, such as a cross containing various objects, almost an alchemical or Masonic explicit symbolism.
Standard pictures (arrangements/groupings of elements), and elements in retablos include the following. What is the origin of the "originals" of these pictorial symbol-arrangements? European paintings or icons? See the books by Zarur and Giffords.
http://www.google.com/search?q=retablos
Art and Faith in Mexico: The Nineteenth Century Retablo Tradition
Elizabeth Netto Calil Zarur (Editor), Charles Muir Lovell (Editor)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0826323243
Mexican Folk Retablos
Gloria Giffords
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0826313698 - the sample page "List of Illustrations" lists the standard pictures.
A Kingdom of Saints: Early Retablos of New Mexico - A Postcard Collection
Michael O'Shaughnessy (Photographer)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1878610368
Mexican
Devotional Retablos: From the Peters Collection Saint Joseph's University
Philadelphia
Joseph F. Chorpenning (Editor)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0916101207 -- "resource for retablo collectors or for anyone with a general curiosity in this subject matter. In addition to forty eight sharp color plates which include a beautiful collection of extremely fine and rare retablos, this book touches on subjects such as technique and style. Other chapters include the legacy of Evangelization in retablo art. In-depth look at St. Joseph, perhaps the most important and prolific subject in retablo art. "
Treasures of Mexican Colonial Painting: The Davenport Museum of Art Collection
Marcus Burke
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?isbn=0890133581 -- "Chronicles 200 hundred years of colonial art in Mexico. This book begins with viceragl culture in 1520 to 1580 and then brings the reader into the "Europeanization" of Mexico. Filled with 176 pages of essays and beautiful examples of important colonial works." Picture of cover is at Colonialarts.com.
Retablo-related books at Colonialarts.com
http://www.mexicanretablos.com/catalog_splash.htm
- good collection.
This modified URL shows
81 retablos:
The URLs to that site might
quickly go out of sync after July 4, 2003.
The best bet to see the correct pictures is to use the comprehensive URL
above, then Find the picture name or inventory number in the page. Note to self: use Sent copy of this post, so
URLs don't have carriage return in the middle.
Common combination: Rose
& lily (lily = datura per Entheos mag v1#2). Revelation idea is "washing white robes in the red blood of
the lamb".
Consider similarity:
rose = crown of thorns
around pierced heart
white roses =
lily-datura
white roses and red
roses = lily-datura and crown of thorns around pierced heart
Compare:
god in monstrance
Christ in
blood-fountain-cup
soul in flames with
cross on forehead
cross-topped monstrance
________________________
http://www.mexicanretablos.com/catalog_artwork/ret6.htm
-- "El Varon Eucaristico de Dolores. A crucified Christ stands in his own
pool of blood with seven sacrificial lambs below, representative of the seven
sacraments. His blood is flowing into a gold chalice is supported by a book
with seven markers each also representative of the sacraments." Christ has flaggelated himself with a grape
vine (entheogen symbol).
http://www.mexicanretablos.com/catalog_artwork/ret52.htm
- El Varon Eucaristico de Dolores -- nice grape vine
Good "staff of
lilies" with lilies:
http://www.mexicanretablos.com/catalog_artwork/ret19.htm
- " "La Sagrada Familia" depicts baby Jesus, Joseph and Mary.
Joseph stands on the right side and wears his traditional green and gold cloak
(colors representative of new life and marriage) and carries his blooming staff
of lilies (representative of purity). A white dove, a symbol of the Holy Ghost,
radiates celestial light from above."
"Staff of
lilies" with roses:
http://www.mexicanretablos.com/catalog_artwork/ret22.htm
http://www.mexicanretablos.com/catalog_artwork/ret57.htm
- nice staff of lilies, lily-topped, rose in middle, surrounded by lilies or
white roses.
http://www.mexicanretablos.com/catalog_artwork/ret21.htm -- San Miguel Archangel, weigher of men's
souls -- San Miguel is represented in this image with his traditional
attributes which include his sword and the defeated devil below. The defeated
devil, representative of the triumph of good over evil, is shackled with a
small pitchfork in his right hand."
Vest has sun, moon, celestial cross, and stars.
http://www.mexicanretablos.com/catalog_artwork/ret9.htm
-- "La Divina Providencia or the "Divine Providence. In the upper quadrant, the Eye of God watches
over four winged cherubs suspended in air by puffy white clouds. Each cherub is
holding what appears to be a trumpet filled with colorful flowers. In the lower
quadrant, God the Father is supported by [is in] a gold chalice [holy grail]
with two fingers pointing upward. In the distance can be seen a cathedral and a
farmer with his oxen and plow."
Here, God holds a gold cross, rather than a + orb.
http://www.mexicanretablos.com/catalog_artwork/ret34.htm
- in this La Divina Providencia, God holds the cosmic orb/globe with celestial
'+' cross.
Baby Jesus is handing a
flaming heart to a sinner who Virgin Mary/Queen of Heaven is lifting up from
the flaming beastly jaws of hell.
Jesus' left hand hands the heart; Jesus' right hand holds another heart,
in front of his chest. The mouth and
teeth of hell are like a gorgon (decaying death head grimace).
"N.S. de la
Luz" by Augustin Barajas
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
10x14
Inventory#L 0041
Empty skull in front of
chest, holding crucifix with small literal body of Jesus on it
"San Francisco de
Asis"
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
5x7
Inventory#M 0370
Cross, Jesus, crown of
thorns, INRI sign, pierced side, blood from side caught in one tiny cup -- from
left hand into another -- from right into another -- from feet blood flows up
to another tiny cup. Candle on either
side -- seems to be equivalent to two crucified rebels, or sun and moon, or
leg-crossed small guys next to Mithras.
"El Cristo de
Saucito" by the "Saucito Master"
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
5x7
Inventory#M 0609
Empty skull on bible,
holding crucifix with small literal body of Jesus on it, w/ INRI sign, holding
lily/datura aimed like swords to heart
"San Luis
Gonzaga" in original wood frame
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
10x14
Inventory#M 0558
Sword piercing virgin's
heart (per Homer, punctured heart = inevitable death, means the type of death
given by encounter with unavoidable inevitability/Necessity/heimarmene)
Jesus on cross, pierced
heart, crown of thorns, INRI sign, 3 women: Virgin with sword-pierced heart,
woman embracing cross, and Mary Magdalene
"El Calvario con
Maria Magdalena"
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
6x8.5
Inventory#K 1046
Sheep emerging unscathed
from furnace (perhaps picture is called "San Francisco de Paula")
(the incorruptable "remnant" after the purgatorial purifying fires;
compare Demeter's burning away the queen's son's mortality over a series of
nights. Ruck & Heinrich's
interpretation system could suggest this as the amanita cap heated to increase
potency some sixfold times.
San Francisco de
Paula"
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
7x10
Inventory#J 0229
This copy also has two
red flames on chest, and several other pictures have red areas near shoulders.
Apparently the two
flames on chest theme is a symbol of the similar two flaming wings labeled
"caridad" (charity, = gratuitous kindness, transcendent love) -- this
might relate to the two candlesticks bracketing virgin Mary in some pictures.
"San Francisco
Paula"
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
10x14
Inventory#J 1202
Skull at foot of cross.
"San Bonifacio
Martir" (rare)
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
7x10
Inventory#L 0353
Queen releasing the
wrist-chained prisoner from prison.
"Santa
Eduviges" by Augustin Barajas
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
10x14
Inventory#L 0414
Wrist-chained souls in
purgatory.
"Animas en
Purgatorio"
Mexico
oil on wood
19th century
8x11.5
Inventory#K 0936
Flaming heart, holding
literalized crucifix
"San Juan de
Dios" (rare)
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
10x14
Inventory#K 0048
http://www.mexicanretablos.com/catalog_artwork/ret49.htm
- " NS de los Milagros. The Virgin
stands before an open curtain with her hands clasped in prayer. Various
"milagros" or "votive offerings" including a foot, a heart
and a bell can be seen hanging overhead with mountainous terrain in the distant
background."
Crown with cross atop,
object-like spreading gown, resting on moon crescent, female, rayed halo, roses
on garment, standing on pedestal, bracketed by two flaming candlesticks. Curtains above, with 0, 2, or 4 tassles.
"N.S. de San Juan
de los Lagos"
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
7x10
Inventory#N 0563
"N.S. de San Juan
de los Lagos"
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
10x14
Inventory#N 0338
"La Virgen de San
Juan de los Lagos"
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
10x14
Inventory#J 0548
This copy is different -
monstrance, lily-daturas instead of flaming candlesticks, possible
purple&gold grape&grain theme.
"N.S. de San Juan
de los Lagos" double-sided
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
7x10
Inventory#M 0327
Similar to "N.S. de
San Juan de los Lagos" is the praying head-topped cloaked body with
crescent base, holding seemingly a combined rose/lily plant, holding crowned
baby Jesus who also holds combined rose-lily, both hold a bead-chain. Bracked by rose vases. No curtain.
"N.S. del
Rosario" by the "Saucito Master"
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
9x13
Inventory#L 0706
San Jose is male equiv.
of "refugio", with lily holding baby Jesus who has cosmic globe w/ X.
In this copy, like theotokos he is crowned (not sitting like theotokos though)
"San José"
Bolivia
Bolivia
oil on metal
19th century
10x14
Inventory#M 0457
http://www.hendleymarket.com/retablos/jose1.jpg
In this copy of San
Jose, holds full-length thriasus pole -- top is like rose w/ lily-like leaves
(combined lily-rose symbol), and only has ring halo.
"San Jose &
Guadalupe" by "Left-Handed Ptr"
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
10x8.5
Inventory#L 0096
In this copy, San Jose
has ring halo (not crown). Odd red/white splotches in thriassus, gives
impression of amanitas against pine tree.
"San José y la
Virgen" by the "Halloween Skull ptr."
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
10x10
Inventory#J 1145
Flaming heart -- pierced,
flames coming out pierce, crowned around with thorns, cross on top, flaming
top.
I don't like this copy
(it is like Ken Wilber's bunk denatured Christ-heart in the book Up From Eden
-- like a thornless rose [aha, rose = crown of thorns around pierced heart]),
because it omits the crown of thorns from the heart and omits the pierced side
of the heart: (in this copy, he points at the heart, and he has nimbus halo)
"El Sagrado Corazon
de Jesus"
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
10x14
Inventory#M 0365
I like this copy --
pierced heart, crown of thorns around heart, lamb licking blood (compare dog
licking Mithra's bull), and also -- extra bonus points -- the heart is against
an amanita-cap backdrop (golden inner flames, orange-red outer flames). (in
this copy, he points up.) Nimbus halo.
"El Sagrado Corazon
de Jesus"
“Saucito Master”, Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
10x14
Inventory#N 0249
In this copy, ring
halo. Heart has crown of thorns and
pierce.
"El Sgdo Corazon de
Cristo" by Concepcion Avila
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
7x10
Inventory#G 0926
Picture “La Cruz de
Animas” is particularly dense with symbols.
Usually includes: cross containing or surrounded by instruments of
torture including nails, rod with sponge, spear (latter two as tall X behind
Jesus), love-dove, ladder, bag of 30 silver coins, slave whipping post, cock, a
couple tong-like devices (hammer?, pliers?), dice, scourge; praying souls in
purgatory under the arms of the cross, adam/tree/snake/eve, sun & moon,
INRI sign, God atop lifting arm and hand on heart, monstrance (Amanita-cap
stand), crowned skeleton piercing heart of tightly wrapped corpse, Virgin Mary
w/ sword-pierced heart, grail cup, Michael archangel with scales of judgment
& sword.
In this copy, there is
no Michael archangel, God has 1 hand up, 1 hand on heart, cosmic globe in front
of heart, no triangle.
“La Cruz de Animas”
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
5.5x6.5
Inventory#J 0372
In this copy, Michael
archangel is above the monstrance, God has both hands up, triangle behind head,
no cosmic globe.
"La Cruz de
Animas"
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
10x14
Inventory#M 0341
In this copy, Michael is
below the monstrance, God has 1 hand up, 1 hand on heart, cosmic globe in front
of heart, triangle behind head.
"Cruz de Animas"
d.1930
Mexico
oil on tin
dated 1 930
10x14
Inventory#N 0405
Another copy:
http://www.mexicanretablos.com/catalog_artwork/ret23.htm
- "eight departed ancestral souls in the lower quadrant await judgment in
purgatory. In the center quadrant, various pictorials represent a monstrance
flanked by a skeleton on the right and Adam and Eve on the left. Just above the
monstrance, "San Miguel Archangel" sits just below "Mater
Dolorosa." In the upper quadrant, God the Father, Christ and the Holy
Spirit are surrounded by a smiling sun and moon face and the symbols of the
passion."
Similar to the "La
Cruz de Animas", "La Alegoria de la Redención" has sun/moon,
Jesus on cross, INRI, piercings, God above raising his hands, love-dove
descending, Virgin Mary with sword-pierced heart on left, Michael archangel w/
sword & scales of judgment on right, skull at base of cross,
rod-sponge-vinegar and spear crossed behind cross, torture implements, adam/eve
below cross, souls in purgatory under the arms of the cross.
"La Alegoria de la
Redención"
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
7x10
Inventory#N 0573
http://www.mexicanretablos.com/catalog_artwork/ret50.htm
- "Sola de Animas -- "departed ancestral souls" -- four animas
are awaiting judgment in purgatory with a monstrance flanked by two burning
candles above." Text: "Animas
benditas D Purgatorio" (something like "souls blessed in
purgatory" - per dante, Purgatory is not a place where the soul is judged
for going to heaven or hell -- a soul in purgatory is definitely heaven-bound,
blessed, elect -- being washed and prepared for heaven.
Baby Jesus leapt into
arms of queen of heaven, his left foot often hidden, or sandal missing. Jesus' halo overlaps with and unites with
Virgin Mary's halo.
"N.S. de
Refugio" by Bruno Sanches
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
10x14
Inventory#L 0476
In "N.S. de
Refugio", baby Jesus doesn't hold the cosmic globe w/ X.
http://www.hendleymarket.com/retablos/pecador.jpg
-- "N.S. Refugio de Pecadores" Our Lady, Refuge of Sinners --
representations account for almost twentyfive percent of the entire production
of retablos, The original image is said to of been from a painting in Frascati,
Italy, and a copy was brought to Mexico in 1719."
good portrayal of T-orb:
http://www.mexicanretablos.com/catalog_artwork/ret51.htm -- This version of "La Sagrada
Familia" with God the Father above. San Jose, with his blooming staff of lilies
and green and gold cloak (colors representative of new life) stands next to
Baby Jesus and the Virgin. God the Father above holds an orb and adds yet
another dimension."
This "Santa
Ana" shows the lilies positioned the same as the multiple swords piercing
Virgin Mary's heart in another picture.
"Santa Ana"
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
7x10
Inventory#N 0562
Virgin Mary holding
cross-removed adult body of Jesus, her heart sword-pierced, cock, some of the
standard set of torture implements (implying the entire set) - here are shown 3
nails, hammer(?), pliers(?), removed crown of thorns, 11 stars around her head,
cross on either side of her. No
crescent at her feet. No cosmic globe
with X in his hand.
"La Piedad" by
Concepcion Avila
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
7x10
Inventory#N 0433
Queen of Heaven standing
on crescent, angel holding up, 2-star bible, golden rays & red ring (almost
amanita cap theme), crown, praying hands, roses.
"N.S. de
Guadalupe"
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
5x7
Inventory#N 0255
Hand of Christ from
clouds, pierced palm, blood into grail cup, 7 lambs drink from blood, 7 letters
(for 7 sacraments) at bottom "drink" from base of grail, 5 figures
above hand touching it, each have 1 foot visible.
Figure 1: 3 lilies
pointed to heart like swords sometimes are. Circle halo. Hands crossed over heart. Woman w/ covered
head.
Figure 2: Praying
hands. Ray halo. Woman w/ uncovered head.
Figure 3: Left hand on
heart, right hand two fingers up and two down, ray halo, stand on cosmic globe
w/ +, young unbearded male.
Figure 4: Man w/ split
beard, brown long parted hair, hands crossed over heart, olds
"thriasus" like Dionysian pine cone on a pole -- pole w/ 4 roses
against green ray leaves. Rayed halo.
Figure 5: Ring halo, man
w/ beard, balding, long pole w/ handle, hands crossed over heart. light
flame(?) on head.
Spear, pole w/ vinegar
sponge, 1 other pole(?) Gender = FFmMM
here.
"La Mano
Poderosa" by the "Master of the Refugio"
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
10x14
Inventory#N 0176
http://www.hendleymarket.com/retablos/mano.jpg
- "The Powerful Hand or The Five Persons -- the five figures in the lilies
include the Holy Family, including Mary's parents Anne and Joachim. The lilies
signify purity."
In this different
Poderosa, the hand comes not from clouds, but from blood-filled grail-fountain
w/ lambs drinking from the cup. Grain
on left, grape vines on right (no lilies here). God is up in clouds, love-dove between. All 5 main "finger figures" appear to have ring halos
here. Various other differences. Gender = MFmFM here. On the 4 adults, clothing color combinations
is generally the same; easy to correlate between the two pictures. Only 4 lambs here.
"La Mano Poderosa
de Jesucristo"
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
6.5x10
Inventory#N 0053
Trumpet spitting blood
from clouds, holding literalized crucifix, armband w/ blood (?), flagellant
scourge, red robe w/ gold plusses and white inside -- like amanita cap, lion
looking at him w/ rayed mane, 1 foot showing, scriptures in front of him, on
knees, ring halo.
"San Geronimo"
by the "Chunky Ptr."
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
7x10
Inventory#L 0097
http://www.hendleymarket.com/retablos/sanjeronimo.jpg
-- "Saint Jerome, Defender of the Faith and Intercessor for a Holy or
Peaceful Death, in the wilderness with a bush to his right. The lion is resting
at his feet."
http://www.mexicanretablos.com/catalog_artwork/ret46.htm
-- "classic portrayal of San Jeronimo, one of the most highly revered
Saints in Mexican folk and retablo art.
The patron saint of philosophers and scholars, Jerome is portrayed as a
hermit with a lion and symbols of penance [cross above skull above bible]
before him. He is usually accompanied by crucifix, skull, trumpet, scourge,
book and lion."
http://www.mexicanretablos.com/catalog_artwork/ret2.htm
-- San Jeronimo.
Holding literalized
crucifix, looking at it, cradling empty skull near heart (in position of
theotokos' infant).
"Santa Rita"
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
7x10
Inventory#M 0868
Almost gives impression
of Amanita -- 1-leg table, gold leg, red tabletop, gold crowns like veil
remnants. Pointing at tabletop. The 3
crowns seem to remotely imply Jesus on the cross bracketed by two lower
crosses. Compare the sword with flaming
tip to the flaming candlestick shown in many other of these pictures -- this suggests
that these are synonymous symbols for "being made to spear one's own
cybernetic heart with the flaming sword of Necessity/Heimarmene (timeless
block-universe determinism)":
flaming candlestick
flame-tipped sword
spear in heart
sword-pierced heart
lily-datura pointing to
heart
finger pointing to
pierced heart
roses in vase?
"San Elias"
(rare)
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
10x14
Inventory#K 0047
Lamb in front of
person's chest/heart. Apparently left
figure with lamb on chest & piercings is Jesus, middle w/ heart-in-sun
& pointing up at his own head is God, right with dove(?) & hands
crossed on heart is Holy Spirit. They
stand on cosmic globe with +, but Jesus has one foot in space. Each person has triangle "halo".
“La Santisima Trinidad”
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
10x14
Inventory#P 0034
http://www.mexicanretablos.com/catalog_artwork/ret10.htm
-- "depicts the Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost as identicals. God the
Father, in the center, Christ on the left and the Holy Ghost to the right; each
holds (respectively) a sun [red face with yellow rays], sacrificial lamb and
white dove."
http://www.mexicanretablos.com/catalog_artwork/ret32.htm
- trinidad
I would say that the
Virgin Mary (right side of below picture) has just been made to spear her own
cybernetic heart with the flaming sword of Necessity/Heimarmene (timeless
block-universe determinism).
"San José y la
Virgen" by the "Halloween Skull ptr."
Mexico
oil on tin
19th century
10x10
Inventory#J 1145
http://www.mexicanretablos.com/catalog_artwork/ret31.htm - "Mater Dolorosa or "Our
Sorrowful Mother." The Virgin is portrayed with a dagger which pierces her
heart, said to be representative of the death of Christ. In the upper right corner,
the base of the cross and the foot of Christ are included; a deviation from the
more traditional representation of this subject."
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