Retablo

Retablo — an altar structure with painted or sculpted decoration, placed behind the main altar. In Christian churches of Spain, Latin America, and Italy, retablos became the center of composition — entire ensembles of carving, gilded elements, and images, serving not only as decoration but also as a means of separating sacred space.

Sometimes these are miniature paintings on tin plates, executed in folk style, preserved in Mexico. Importantly, the retablo is a source of information about the historical appearance of churches, style, and worldview of epochs. They were often regarded as family heirlooms, passed down through generations, and incidents occurred when enthusiasts accidentally confused a household retablo with an exotic souvenir at the market!