Rare Antique 'San Vicente Ferrer' Professionally Framed Mexican Retablo on Tin

Description

Antique 'San Vicente Ferrer
' Framed Mexican Retablo on Tin
Beautiful retablo depicting San Vicente Ferrer in a large golden chalice holding white lilies and a crucifix. There is a sickly man in a white habit lying in the lower left corner and a small village can be seen in the lower right corner. "Vincent is generally regarded as one of the most powerful preachers medieval Catholicism had, turning many careless believers to penitents and converting many Jews. He felt himself to be the instrument chosen by God to announce the impending end of the world. In fact, he declared himself at one time to be the angel of judgement foretold by Saint John (Revelation 14:6). Vincent is shown in this retablo as Dominican. He always is depicted with wings, his most readily identifiable attribute, perhaps referring to his belief in his angelic role as stated in Revelations. The book indicates his effectiveness as a preacher, and the crucifix is usually interpreted as a symbol of preaching the Christian faith. In European paintings, the upraised finger pointed to an image of Christ on a scroll with Latin inscription
Timete Dominum et date illi honorem quia venit hora judicii eius
("Fear the Lord and render him honor because his judgement hour is coming"). In retablo art, however, the image of Christ and the scroll have disappeared, leaving the finger pointing skyward (
Mexican Folk Retablos
, Gloria Giffords, 115)." In this retablo the sickly man in the bottom left corner represents the many people that San Vicente Ferrer cured and even brought back from life.
The Acta Sanctorum, a 17th-century encyclopedic text researched by a team of Jesuits, records that he performed 873 miracles. These same Jesuit scholars say he delivered 70 people from demonic possession. In another place St. Antoninus (the Dominican archbishop of Florence) claims he raised 28 people from the dead.
Whatever the actual number of miracles is, wherever Vincent Ferrer went, the sick and dying came to him and were healed. Finally, the small village in the background represents (even though not depicted) the legend of the falling worker. San Vicente Ferrer passed some masons working on the top of a building when one fell to a certain demise, but San Vicente performed the miracle of suspending the worker in mid-air. He went to ask the Bishop for permission to help the man, seeing as he had previously promised the Bishop he would no longer perform miracles. When San Vicente returned he helped the worker to a safe landing which eventually made him the patron saint of stone masons.
This piece has been professionally framed and professionally restored to museum standards.
This includes very light repainting in inconspicuous areas of the piece (blue background, black habit, and gold chalice). The frame was custom made for this retablo to a non-standard size (15.5" x 12") and has a very heavy duty hanging wire.
The dimensions of the piece are approximately 11.5" x 7.5".
Please look at all pictures closely to verify condition. I have not made an exhaustive list of features nor flaws, therefore you need to verify for yourself.
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