The "Retablo" or "Saint Mark of Ayacucho box" was made during the Viceroyship for the livestock breeders and dealers. As it name suggests, it was a portable two dimensional altar piece. It held the figures of the patron saints of the animals - Saint Inez, Saint Mark, Saint John, Saint Luke, and Saint Anthony in the upper compartment. In the lower compartment, the sculptor depicted an everyday scene of local life incorporating his own protective gods in the shape of the Condor and the Fox. It is still the custom today when animals are marked to stand the edge of the "Retablo" on the snipped off tips of the animal ears.
The art of Peruvian Retablo making has evolved with time and today other religious, agricultural, and artisan scenes are included in the form of small figures made of paste or Huamanga stone.
This document was posted on our website (www.lalalmaplace.com) with the permission of Mr. Ignacio Lopez Antay (Retablos Lopez Antay, Arte Popular de Ayacucho, Peru) |
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