Antique Mexican San Ramon Nonato Retablo

$ 3,500.00
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  • San Ramon Nonato Retablo
  • Latin America, Mexico, Spanish Colonial, ca. 1800 to 1900 CE.
  • A carefully delineated retablo depicting Saint Raymond Nonatus (San Ramon Nonato) in a beautifully, hand carved wooden frame replete with detail (perhaps referencing his crowned palm attribute) in the pediment and painted in hues of rose and green. San Ramon is a popular subject of Mexican retablos. He is traditionally depicted as a Mercedarian cardinal, the badge of his order prominently displayed on his habit. He carries his personal attributes including a palm with three crowns signifying chastity, eloquence, and martyrdom ringing it, despite the fact that he was tortured and not actually martyred. He is also holding a monstrance which symbolizes his receiving communion from the hands of an angel when dying.
  • San Ramon Nonato is known as the patron of midwives and women giving birth, because he was born via caesarean at the time of his mother's demise. Nonatus literally means "not born." He is also praised as the patron saint of falsely accused innocents, due to his work to ransom prisoners. Sometimes San Ramon Nonato is depicted with a padlock on his lips or with his lips completely rubbed away signifying his other purpose as the patron of silence. According to tradition, if one wishes to end gossip, one should rub the mouth of Saint Ramond Nonatus. Wonderful attention to modeling the Saint's facial features, his carefully delineated hands, and attributes. Size: retablo itself measures ~10-1/4" x 8" (26 x 20.3 cm); framed 17" x 13-1/4" (43.2 x 33.7 cm).
  • Condition: Some wear to the frame, including one missing rondel; minor surface wear to the retablo.
  • Provenance: Ex-private T. Jones collection, New York, NY.
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