Icon - Iron - Saint Isidore the Farmer

San Isidro Labrador – Mexican Retablo on Iron Sheet, 19th Century

Hand-painted religious retablo on iron sheet depicting Saint Isidore (San Isidro Labrador), patron saint of farmers and agriculture. The saint is shown centrally with a long staff and is surrounded by numerous small-format scenes of farmers, sheep, animals, as well as a stylized village and landscape backdrop. The composition follows the traditional iconography of Mexican folk art, blending religious symbolism with rural everyday life.

Executed in bright colors and a characteristic naive painting style with decorative details, as is typical for Mexican retablos of the 19th century. The back shows age-related oxidation of the iron sheet.

Material:
Hand-painted on iron sheet.

Technique:
Oil paint on iron sheet.

Era:
Attributed to the 19th century.

Style:
Mexican folk art / retablo.

Provenance:
From the estate of a Swiss art collection.