Esquipulas Ex-voto

On Thursday September 13, in the year of 1854, in 'Tezonopa el Grande', Esiquio Cortez, Trinidad Vildis, Juan Chino and Trinidad Espinosa called upon 'El Señor de Esquipulas' to petition him for rains that he spoke of in earlier days, and all the people came together in conformation with their alms for the celebration of the Holy Mass. Then, in the afternoon of that day, it started to rain. The following Friday the rains grew more intense and at five o'clock in the afternoon a medium orange colored lightning bolt struck the temple and broke the colonial stone cross. A cypress tree entered without El Señor suffering even the slightest bit of damage. 

On the third day of rains, now Saturday the 15th of the present month, while celebrating the Sta Misa and nearing the conclusion of Holy Mass, those who were interested would go to the altar to inspect the Cristo to see if he had suffered any injuries but he had not. There was nothing. Except for some signs of fire, everything in the Sacristy was fine. A few days later some began to get sick and they suddenly turned and fell dead, some piously thinking it was a force of evil but finding instead that the Blessed Virgin of Dolores had been struck by lightning and had burned her clothes and her breast.

Mr. Francisco Vikches offered to repair this image and make new clothes. By miracle of the Lord they saw the soul of sickness. On January 15, 1910, Mr. Margarito Cortez and Señora Guadalupe Alvarez became inspired to to make a retablo to increase the devotion to The Lord of Esquipulas and to publish and enhance his wonders and miracles. All of of the people approved of this and came with their alms offering for the formation of this retablo.

Provenance:

Private Chicago Collection.
X Sotheby's New York.

 Dimensions: Frame: 67 inches x 67. Painting: 60 inches x 60 inches. 

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