Posted 5 years ago
ho2cultcha
(5051 items)
This is a very old nicho, with what i believe is the original retablo [there are no other nail holes in the board backing]. The cut off post on the back shows that it was made to use in processions. I'm not sure where it's from - Mexico? Peru? Ecuador? I'm also not sure what saints are being portrayed here. Appears to show a monk recieving blessings from a little white Virgin with Jesus floating on a cloud over them. ?? Not sure what category this would fall in.
This is a very early depiction of San Antonio de Padua - probably early 1600s - possibly from the San Antonio de Padua Mission near Jolon, CA - which is just ruins now.
Wowza! This is great!!! I was thinking it may be Eastlake Era, but your date is far before that and I've never seen such a frame like this. There is a site that has extensive info on frames, some with pics and all have prices too! I just can't find it at the moment and will be sure to look later and come back with the link. One thing for sure, many times, not all, the frames are worth more than the pic itself. This together tho, must be of great value. google antique framed paintings and see if you find it. There's a lot of pages on the site to look thru!
I don't really know what retablo and nicho have to do with this as it usually refers to religeous pieces. Maybe that talk is coming into vogue but something I have never referred or heard of regarding furniture. This looks rather baroque to me, definitely has nothing to do with Eastlake style at all. As soon as I saw it the word entablature came to mind more than anything, needs more research. Entablature is a word normally referring to architecture although I have heard it over the years as something over doorways and also particularly fireplaces. I have heard it before when the large auction houses uses it on furniture also and big clunky pieces like this piece I have seen over fireplaces. Of course from my book I have called " The Elements of Style " would have an answer but unfortunate for me it is factory sealed and I prefer to keep it that way in case I have to sell quick. Sue is great by the way and glad she came in with an opinion.
thanks rene, Share and Phil! the plot thickens! 'Nicho' means cubby or cabinet and retablo is a painted scenario - traditionally a narrative from a saint's life. they are used to pass on the stories of saints to people who do not read/write. There are loads of them of San Antonio de Padua from the 19th century, but they are different. For some unknown reason, narrative ones like this are extremely rare. He's almost always shown carrying the baby Jesus in his arms with stocks of lillies around them or in his hand as well. This is a narrative - of when Jesus appeared to him - but there's more going on here with the little mini-Virgin. There's a branch attached to the flowers - which is difficult to see - and it's floating between S.A.P. and the Virgin. His book of lost/found book of psalms is on the table along with some little boxes or something i haven't figured out yet. This scene is very early and unknown as far as i can tell. I'm waiting to hear back from some experts in Catholic relicts and i'll post more when i find out. The encasement with the pillars is also particular to S.A.P. and can be seen on some of the churches built in his name. i think it represents the strong power of the scriptures or something like that. i think it's late 18th or possibly very early 19th c.
I found another San Antonio retablo just like mine - with the story attached: https://colonialarts.com/collections/retablos/products/st-anthony-the-apparition-of-the-child-jesus
mid-1800s.