Existing comment:
The Art of Andean Retablos: Religion, Tradition, and Social Commentary:
Introduction:
Welcome to this exhibition about the art of Andean retablos. As an anthropology museum, the San Diego Museum of Man shares information about human development, creativity, and artistic expression. Through the exquisite art form of the retablo, we can glimpse into the lives of the indigenous peoples of highland Peru. From religion to tradition and to socio-political violence, retablos are more than decorative boxes: they are vehicles for social commentary and an important link to the past.
A majority of the retablos in this exhibition are from master retablo-maker Nicario Jimenez Quispe, who learned the art of retablo-making from is father and grandfather. From the traditional cajon sanmarcos, Jimenez Quispe's work has evolved into social commentary pieces on border issues and civil rights.
Most of our retablos were donated to the Museum by Tom and Adele Davies, who collected Jimenez Quispe's work for decades. We are extremely fortunate to have such retablos in our permanent collection.
Please enjoy the artistry and detail of these amazing objects. Each one is handsome and shows the evolution of an art form that came to Peru in the sixteenth century. Indigenous artists have taken the retablo and made it their own.
What is a Retablo?
The retablo originated in a popular religious art form -- the capilla de santero -- during the Romanesque period (circa 1000 to 1137 CE). The capillo de santero is a portable altar with images of saints. The word retablo comes from the Latin retra-tabulum, which means "behind the table or altar." The first retablos consisted of three-dimensional statues or images within a decorated frame placed behind church altars in Spain. In the Old World, there were used as portable altars for travelers and carried into battle by warriors during the Crusades. Early retablos often featured Saint James, the patron saint in the war against the Moors.
The retablo art form varies. In Mexico, for example, saint images are painted on copper and tin, in New Mexico on wood. Retablos are used in many ways -- as personal altars, ex-votos (votive offerings of thanks), devotional images, and sacred objects with magical functions.
Andean retablos are distinguished from their counterparts by material, shape, and color. Traditionally they are made of a shallow wooden rectangular box with double doors attached by leather hinges. On the top of the box is placed a triangular piece called a crown. Brightly painted inside and out, the retablos usually contain two levels with three-dimensional figurines. The figures were initially sculpted in alabaster, but as demand increased figures were made of paste, a mixture of boiled potato and Plaster of Paris. |