Retablo Altar

Physical description

Portable altar containing a depiction of the Holy Week Procession in Ayacucho. The exterior walls of the altar are painted yellow-white with red borders around the edges. On both side walls, there are faint grey squiggly lines. Two pieces of leather are nailed to each of the side walls and to the sides of the doors; the leather pieces serve as hinges. The exterior of the doors are each painted with a red, purple and orange flower. Each flower has two long petals with undulating sides and two small purple petals. The centres of the flowers are orange. Above the doors, a triangular piece of wood is attached to the façade to create a peaked roofline. There is a faint black, brown and yellow motif painted on the triangular piece. The interiors of the doors are each painted with a flower. The flowers each have two red petals and two purple petals. The left and back walls inside the altar are painted purple. There are white stars or fireworks painted over the purple backdrop. Attached to the backdrop, on the back wall, there is a small plastic figure of an angel with purple wings. Below the angel, also attached to the backdrop, there is a figure of a praying woman. On the lower right side of the back wall, there is a plastic figure of a man playing a guitar. Left of the praying woman, ascending from the ground, there is a tall structure formed from thin black beams. The beams meet in a dome-shape at the top of the structure. Attached in various places to the structure, there are three yellow and red bundles. A woman in a purple shawl and red dress stands in front of the structure with her hands clasped in prayer. Her baby is strapped to her back. Next to her, there is another woman in an orange shawl holding a yellow and black striped object. Right of this woman, there is a large white platform with many candles attached to it. The candle flames are red and the platform is decorated with gold patterns throughout. The platform also has various white and gold pots attached to it. A figure of Jesus stands atop the platform. He is wearing a red sash, is surrounded by a gold halo and holds a gold flag. Right of the platform, a man with a mustache holds a yellow and black tuba. In front of the woman in the purple shawl, there is a man in a round-collared yellow robe holding a staff with a vase-shaped object atop. Next to him, there is a man in a dark blue robe, red and black striped cape and red, black and yellow crown. The man wearing the crown holds an open book in his hands. Next to him, there is another man in a round-collared robe holding a staff. Behind him, a woman carries her baby on her back and clasps her hands in prayer. Right and in front of her, there is a woman in a red shirt and yellow and black cape; she also clasps her hands in prayer. There is a child next to her, wearing a yellow shawl and skirt and purple shirt. Next to the child, there is a man in a yellow shirt, blue tie and blue pants. A small boy stands next to him. Behind the man and the boy, a musician with a thin mustache plays cymbals. Next to the cymbalist, a man in a blue and black striped outfit holds a candle in his hand. A small boy also holds a candle to his right. The artist’s name is written in green paint on the back of the object. Two numbers are also written on the back of the object, one in red ink, the other in pencil.