The folk art items on this page are embroidered "milagros" (miracles) from San Miguel de Allende (area of Los Barrones), in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. They are contemporary pieces done in the style of the traditional ex-voto retablo of west central Mexico. The ex-voto (latin for "from the vow") painting, typically done on tin, commemorates an answered prayer. For example, if a mother has prayed to the Virgin for the health of her child, she may, upon the restoration of the child's health, commission a local folk painter to create an ex-voto painting which she will offer to the local church.
These milagros follow in that tradition. However, they contain shorter texts than most of the tin ex-votos, and they may or may not indicate an actual occurrence. They are not offered to a church, but are intended to be sold to support efforts to foster women's and children's well-being. They depict an advocation of the Virgin (or sometimes a saint), the praying supplicant or the person healed, and features of the landscape such as cactus or clouds. The embroidered texts often contain misspellings or grammatical errors.
Besides these ex-voto "milagros," this page presents two embroidered pictures of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe).
Select the image to see a larger image.
Contact Kalarte Gallery to order or for more information.
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embroidered cloth ex-voto "milagro" Picture of Virgen, kneeling supplicant, bird, insect, flowers, and cactus.
The text says: $30.00 | #Lret09 | close-up |
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embroidered cloth ex-voto "milagro" Picture of Virgin, man, bird, and plants. The text says: $30.00 | #Lret13 | close-up |
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embroidered cloth ex-voto "milagro" The picture shows a man or boy kneeling before San Jude, who holds a
staff. The picture includes a cactus, a butterfly, a cloud, and a tall
plant. The text says: $30.00 | #Lret45 | close-up of picture | close-up of text |
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embroidered cloth ex-voto "milagro" The picture shows San Isidro standing in the upper left, a cow in the
lower right. There are three desert plants in the picture. The text says: $30.00 | #Lret46 | close-up of picture | close-up of text |
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embroidered cloth ex-voto "milagro" The picture shows a petitioner kneeling before Jesus dressed in a purple
robe and carrying His cross. (Nuestro Padre Jesus refers to Jesus on the
road to Calvary.) Plants and stars complete the scene. The text says: $30.00 | #Lret47 | close-up of picture | close-up of text |
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embroidered cloth ex-voto "milagro" The picture shows the Holy Child standing at the left of the picture.
At the right is a boy treading upon a snake. A cactus and a cloud are
also present. The text says: $30.00 | #Lret48 | close-up of picture | close-up of text |
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embroidered cloth ex-voto "milagro" The picture shows a boy standing before the Virgin of Guadalupe. Two
plants are also in the scene. The text says: $30.00 | #Lret49 | close-up of picture | close-up of text |
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embroidered cloth ex-voto "milagro" The pictures shows a man lying on the ground after a fall. His guardian
angel hovers above. The text says: $30.00 | #Lret50 | close-up of picture | close-up of text |
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embroidered cloth ex-voto "milagro" The picture shows a woman lying on the ground in front of the Virgin
of Guadalupe. A large plant is between them. The text says The text says: $30.00 | #Lret51 | close-up of picture | close-up of text |
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embroidered cloth ex-voto "milagro" The picture shows a lady walking through plants, perhaps corn plants.
She is holding what might be a rosary and there is blood oozing from
her left ankle. The Holy Child of Atocha is at the top right of the picture.
The text says: SOLD | #Lret52 |
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embroidered cloth $26.00| #Lret14 | close-up |
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embroidered cloth, sequins $58.00 | #Lret15 | close-up |
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