Oil on tin retablo nuetra señora del refugio ( Mary Refuge of Sinners )

Oil on tin retablo nuetra señora del refugio ( Mary Refuge of Sinners ) or madonna and child, She is crowned and is holding baby christ, who is also crowned.

With original Frame

Mexico. Early 1700s

Size 31 x 26 cm

The image of the "Virgin of the Refuge", the name by which she is also known, is a copy made by order of Blessed Antonio Baldinucci of the, also well-known, Virgin of the Holm Oak, to take with him on his apostolic adventures due to his zeal. for the conversion of sinners. This first copy is found in Frascati, a city in the province of Rome, southeast of it, on the way to Naples. The sanctuary located there and which is dedicated to the "Virgin of the Refuge" is a well-known pilgrimage center in central and southern Italy.

In the mid-18th century, Jesuit missionaries took copies of this image to Mexico and made them known in the towns where their mission took place. As a consequence of the devotion in those Mexican towns, many boys and girls were baptized with the names of Jesús or María del Refugio, familiarly called "Cuco" or "Cuca" or "Cuquita."