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 Retablo: Behind the Altar
A Collection of Paul LeBaron Thiebaud
The Colonial Arts Gallery in San Francisco is proud to present the exhibition 'Retablo: Behind the Altar, A Collection of Paul LeBaron Thiebaud.' The exhibition features well over 100 Mexican retablos, ex-votos, colonial reliquaries and santos. James Eddy's gallery, Colonial Arts is an excellent venue to display this outstanding work, since it will be in the company of other fine collections of Spanish colonial art, Mexican folk art and retablos that also cover this genre. The Colonial Arts gallery specializes in Spanish colonial art and antiques with a special emphasis on retablos. James has been familiar with the quality and depth of Paul Thiebaud's collection and enthusiastically championed these amazing gems. This is the sixth exhibition of "Behind the Altar" since it was initially curated by Phil Hitchcock in 2004, Director of the School of the Arts, at California State University of Sacramento, and the first show of the collection in the San Francisco Bay Area. The collection is a sincere compliment to the local arts community, and a great resource for retablo collectors, academics and enthusiasts. It demonstrates the broad range of artistic styles, the multiplicity of subjects and saints and perhaps most of all, the evolution of retablo art, beginning with earlier colonial works on copper to the more spontaneous folk masterpieces on tin.
A statement from Paul Thiebaud about the collection:
"I began collecting these artifacts when I was about 19 years old. They were naive, authentic, magical and inexpensive. Over the years, they have stayed true to these characteristics and so I have continued to pursue them with an almost fanatical zeal. My father tells me that a fanatic is someone who loses his way and redoubles his efforts…olé! My great friend, Charles Campbell, can take the blame for introducing me to this material.
I’ve collected these pieces based purely on my belief of their aesthetic merits, hopefully not corrupting my perception of them with allegorical reference or historical significance. Their religious prowess, although unmistakable, is notable for its conviction not its dependence. As an observer, I’ve always felt invited, not lured by their intention. They are at once reverent and personal, painterly and sculptural, simple and powerful.
That man can be so inspired as to reach for the heavens and create such beauty is, in my opinion, the actual religion that is reflected in these treasures."
James Eddy is honored to host this important collection. This will be the first public exhibition at the Colonial Arts Gallery in San Francisco.
Colonial Arts Gallery
1028 Kearny Street between Broadway and Pacific
View Map
415-505-0680
info@colonialarts.com
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