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Art and Faith in Mexico: The Nineteenth-Century Retablo Tradition

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I have been searching for a book such as this for years! Scholars and novices alike will not be dissapointed with this comprehensive text by Elizabeth Zarur and Charles Lovell. This exceptional publication documents an exhibit of mexican retablos and ex votos held at the New Mexico State University Art Gallery (holders of THE largest collection of retablos in the USA). The catolog raisonne provides a wealth of information on the topic, that will become an invaluable reference source. The publication however goes far beyond documenting the exhibit. Undoubtably this text will become the "bible" for chronicling and deciphering these treasures. The two editors have brought together prominent scholars on the subject who comment on the works from an interdisciplinary ( art history, anthropological, folk art, and religioious) point of view. The iconography within the retablos is clearly deciphered throughout the text in a manner that will enlighten the reader who is new to these works, and will serve as an invaluable resource to the learned hagiographer. Additional topics in the text will provide the reader with information that has not been covered in other texts on the subject, such as: insights into religious orders who influenced the visual qualities and symbolism in the artworks, conservation and care of retablos in general. Of particular interest is editor Zarur's commentary on the impact of Spanish missionization upon the indigenous people of Mexico. She presents profound insights into how the fusing of these cultures impacted and altered visual representations of the saints and cult imagery. The visual reproductions of the works are exceptional! One can feel as though they are viewing the works in person. Brushstrokes, tin surfaces, and age of the artworks are evident in the photographs. Many of the works are complemented with close up photos. If you purchase one book on Mexican religious artworks this is it. You will not be disappointed with this one!

Through an in-depth study of the iconography and cultural importance of a single religious image, Our Lady of Refuge of Sinners, it is possible to demonstrate the long-lasting impact of sixteenth-century theologies of the Reformed Catholic Church. The teachings of Saint Ignatius Loyola and the art treatises of Francisco Pacheco reinforced the ideals of the Counter-Reformation. The rapid spread of this Marian devotion in the city and surroundings of Zacatecas reflected the social, political, and economic situation of mining regions. Moreover, due to metallurgical advances in the early half of the nineteenth-century, the image of Our Lady of Refuge of Sinners became accessible to all sectors of the population, only to be replaced at the end of the century by chromographic and engraved images in newspapers such as the one by José Guadalupe Posada of 1905. The New Mexico State University Art Gallery collection of Mexican retablos and ex-votos provides an extraordinary opportunity for a more contextual understanding and appreciation for the art of the retablo and how this art form records the history of the peoples of Mexico, their art, devotions, and beliefs.

This historical and inspirational book will be treasure to anyone interested in retablos. With 189 photographs in both color and B&W, the editors have presented the best of the New Mexico State University's retablo collection. The interdisciplinary essays by 11 Latin Americanists from the U.S. and Mexico help the reader understand the European, Aztec and Mexican influences in the works presented. This book is also a must for anyone interested in Mexican Art History and the history of Roman Catholicism in Mexico.