This is the second of two retablos I recently purchased from a dealer in Canada, both straight from a German collector, who also collected antique Russian/Eastern Orthodox icons. This and the other retablo (listed and sold last week) both depict Las Cruz de Animas, or the Cross of Souls, representing Christ on the cross along with a group of anima sola below--lonely souls surrounded by flames who are trapped in purgatory, requiring the prayers of the living as well as the assistance of divine to release them to heaven. Packed with all of the (very excellent) associated iconography, here is a very beautifully rendered Christ in crown of thorns surrounded by wonderful array of "instruments of the passion" (sword, ladder, hammer, reed, hand rooster, etc.) with shining sun to the right and red one to the left, I believe representing an eclipse. Then God the Father/Holy Spirit and a dove above; Adam and Eve and the snake below left;  death personified as skeleton with scythe standing over a figure in bed below right; and Saint Michael the Archangel holding scales of justice lower center. Then 12 anima sola, male and female, with the craquelure to the paint making their torment feel all the more visceral! As far as retablo subjects go, I think it is hard to beat this one, which also feels very timely. And here, for me, it is especially the painting of Christ that gets me, feeling truly holy--and that crackled, crest-fallen looking sun surrounded by stars. 

Very good condition, early 20th century I believe. Craquelure to the paint as evident, I think very much to the good. Tape remnants to the back of the tin from previously having been mounted in a frame. No bends on notable dings, and tin of a good weight.