Does December 12th hold any significance to you? For many Catholics, the annual feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated today. For the artist Guadalupe Maravilla, it is not only his birthday but the day his cancer was successfully removed. This painting by Maravilla titled "I was born on December, 12th Retablo" follows the long-standing tradition from Mexico of votive offerings, where an image is created in gratitude for an action received by the donor. These offerings originated in the early-mid 18th century, but the great majority of the surviving examples are from the 19th and early 20th centuries. In all cases, they depict a perceived miraculous outcome, accompanied by an inscription that explains the miracle with an image of the divine entity responsible for it. Following this model, Maravilla thanks Our Lady of Guadalupe for a successful surgery, also connecting his birthdate with the festivity of la Guadalupana, making clear his deep connection goes beyond a single event. Now on view in our Modern and Contemporary art gallery. #NowOnView #Retablo #GuadalupeMaravilla #ATXMuseums #TexasMuseums #ArtInAustin