Unique RARE New Mexican 2 sided Painted Retablo on Wood with metal encasing

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Unique RARE New Mexican 2 sided Painted Retablo on Wood with metal encasing:
$2500.00

This is a wonderfully painted wooden retablo in the New Mexican Spanish Colonial folk art tradition
The center saint is St Anthony de Padua . He often holds a white lily, representing purity, alongside a Bible or a prayer book, symbolizing his status as a brilliant scholar, preacher, and Doctor of the Church. Revered deeply by New Mexican Hispanic communities, he is the patron saint invoked for finding lost items or lost souls.The other 2 appear to be Franciscan/Spanish Colonial saints probably San Joseph, San Franciscoas these saints are a documented subject for New Mexican retablos.The back of the painting confirms its origin and religious purpose offering two highly diagnostic features.The cross detail : the horizontal baron the “H” is elongated and topped with a visual crucifixThe nails below: at the base of the central figure are symbolized points. In traditional Catholic and Jesuit iconography these signify the three nails used during the crucifixion.
The Historical significance : this specific layout - the IHS monogram surmounted by a cross with nails below was adopted by St Ignacio’s of Loyola in 1541 as the official seal of the Society of Jews ( the Jesuits) This strongly suggests that the painting was commissioned for or created within a jesuit mission, monastery or school.

The practice of framing a wood icon within a protective hand stamped or folded tin casing is an architectural earmark of devotional folk art from these regions intended for household alters or rural chapels. This one also appears to have a crown of thorns at the top. And done in copper or brass due to its gold tone.

The white knotted cord attached to the frame is a Franciscan cord of monastery disciplinary scourge. Given its placement on the back it likely served as a dual purpose - acting as a sturdy, rustic hanging piece keeping a symbolic physical reminder religious vows of penance physically bound to the artwork