Señor de Esquipulas

This rare 19th-century folk retablo from Mexico represents 'El Señor de Esquipulas' or 'Our Lord of Esquipulas, a popular icon which originated in Guatemala's municipality of Esquipulas. El Señor de Esquipulas is also known as the 'Cristo Negro' or 'Black Christ.' The 400-year-old hand-carved wooden icon, housed in the Basilica of Esquipulas, has grown darker through centuries of veneration, handling, candle soot, oil, and natural time-aged patina. As the icon continued to morph over time, indigenous populations throughout the Americas embraced the new creed and word of this miraculous transformation continued to spread. Each year on the 15th day of January faithful petitioners from Mexico to Nicaragua make the pilgrimage to Esquipulas to supplicate his miraculous healing powers. While quite popular, The Black Christ is rarely depicted in retablo art.

Dimensions: 7 inches vertical x 5 inches horizontal.

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