Product Description

Nineteenth-century Mexico was a period of unprecedented political turmoil. One result of this instability was that many religious practices moved from the church to the home, and the retablo art form -- sacred paintings on tin -- flourished. With over 1,700 objects, New Mexico State University holds the largest collection of retablos of any museum in the United States. Eleven eminent Latin Americanists from the US and Mexico have studied this collection and placed it in a broad cultural context. They have looked at the retablos from the standpoint of art history, history, anthropology, folk art, and religion to bring a new understanding of and appreciation for these paintings. This interdisciplinary approach brings together multiple influences in considering, for example, Baroque images as popular icons, Aztec gods and home altars, popular images in nineteenth-century Mexico, European and viceregal paintings, and bultos and santos from New Mexico. In addition to essays, the book includes restoration philosophy and conservation methods, a glossary, chronology, maps, and a comprehensive section on the art and iconography of each object in the Art Gallery collection.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2010378 in Books
• Published on: 2001-02-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 359 pages

From Library Journal
The tin retablo, or sacred painting on tin, combines Mexican and European influences to create a vital and unique art form that flourished in Mexico during the second half of the 19th century and the early 20th century, years of political turmoil that saw some religious practice moved from the church to the home. The richly varied retablo tradition continues to the present, making this book valuable in providing a current as well as a historic understanding of Hispanic culture in Mexico and New Mexico. With over 1700 objects, New Mexico State University (NMSU) holds the largest collection of retablos of any museum in the United States. NMSU art historian Zarur and NMSU gallery director Lovell have gathered 11 eminent Latin Americanists to study this collection from the standpoint of art history, history, anthropology, folk art, and religion and bring us a new appreciation of these paintings. In addition to essays and the catalog of works, the book includes 125 beautiful color plates and 64 halftones, discussions of restoration philosophy and conservation methods, a glossary, a chronology, maps, and a comprehensive section on the art and iconography of each object. Other books have been published on the subject, but since 1975 there has been no substantive scholarly research on the extensive NMSU collection. For all regional libraries, large public libraries, academic libraries, and specialized collections in art, anthropology, religion, or Latin American studies. Sylvia Andrews, Indiana State Lib., Indianapolis
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
This splendid, sumptuous book . . . is a landmark in the scholarly presentation of the retablo . . . an ambitious project . . . Ýit will certainly be accepted as the standard against which all other similar works are measured. This outstanding example of fine production values reflects, the care with which the work was prepared.

About the Author
Elizabeth Netto Zarur and Charles Muir Lovell, Editors