A charming and slightly primitive hand-painted retablo of
Saint Joseph (also known as San Jose) the husband of Mary and father of Jesus.
This signed retablo was painted by renowned New Mexican santera
artist Lydia Garcia who passed away in 2023.
Garcia, whose work is considered highly collectible and found in museums
and high-end Southwest art galleries, was known not only for her portrayals of
Saints and religious icons but for painting them, a la traditional ex votos,
on recycled metal pieces including can lids and hammered scrap metal with many
of her paints being crafted from locally sourced plants, roots and berries.
The vintage retablo, titled “San Jose con el Niño”
was painted in 1989 in soft desert tones on metal.
Ready to hang, it measures 8” in height, 4 ¼” in width.