Bidspirit auction | Mexican Retablo Depicting San Antonio

Mexican Retablo Depicting San Antonio de Padua (St. Anthony of Padua) - A Spanish Colonial or New World folk art retablo painted on a tin support, depicting the devotional subject of San Antonio de Padua (St. Anthony of Padua) holding the Christ Child. The use of tin as a support is characteristic of the Mexican retablo tradition. St. Anthony is shown wearing a dark habit and a cap, holding a sprig with a small white flower. The infant Christ Child is depicted in a bright red garment and features a slight halo. The painting is housed within a dark-stained wooden frame featuring a simple carved profile and an interior liner of red velvet textile. The reverse of the frame is covered by a tan cardboard backing secured with tape and small nails. A faint handwritten number, possibly 9.0 or 90, is visible on the edge of the backing.