Lot 8
ORIGINALLY OFFERED AT $500
Latin America, Mexico, attributed to the Fu Manchu Moustache Painter, ca. 1875 CE. A dramatic oil on sabino wood retablo depicting the crucified San Felipe de Jesus or Saint Philip of Jesus (1572-1597) attributed to the so-called Fu Manchu Moustache Painter. Sabino wood was a material of choice for Spanish Colonial retablos, furniture, and carved saints, due to its resistance to rotting and termites and its remarkably smooth surface. Saint Philip of Jesus holds the distinct honor of being the first saint born in the Americas. He was born in Mexico City, though he would later die in Japan. Early on he elected to join the Franciscan Order; however, he found this monastic life too difficult and left the Order. Ultimately he regretted this decision, and joined the Franciscans once again. San Felipe de Jesus spent time in the Phillipine missions, and then went to Japan where a church with more than 200,000 converts had been established. Unfortunately, not long after he arrived, an abrubt turn of the political climate resulted in the persecution of missionaries and their followers. This led to Philip's crucifixion at Nagasaki one February morning in 1597. This retablo shows two spears piercing his body. In fact, Philip together with 25 other Christians were speared to death while they hung from their crosses that morning. Since Philip's brother was a missionary in Mexico, news of this horrific story of the Nagasaki martyrs spread to the Americas and retablos like this example as well as larger church paintings were created in their honor. Size: 10" L x 8" W (25.4 cm x 20.3 cm)
According to the late James Caswell, "This tabla was gnawed by a rat who, fortunately, tired before getting to the poor anima. Rats gnaw on wood during nesting and times of scarcity of food. Aside from this damage it remains in very good condition with minimal old repaint on top left corner. Painted on a handsome piece of sabino wood which in the Colonial Era (1520 - 1810) was the most desirable wood for furniture, saint carving, and boards for painting. No longer available, all sabino trees were cut and used; it was prized for it's smooth suppressed grain surface and resistance to rotting and termites."
Provenance: Ex-Historia Antiques, James Caswell, Santa Monica, CA.
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#111741
- Condition: Losses at peripheries and lower right as shown. Minor repainting at top left corner.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $25,000 |