This milagre is unusual because of the realistic manner in which it was made. Although not entirely unknown, painted ex-votos are relatively rare. The man shown here had apparently been suffering from a facial infection, prominently represented here on the upper left cheek. The red scarf probably came from a piece of clothing belonging to the devotee and therefore carries with it some of the essence of that person.

Marion Oettinger, Jr., "Head of Man with Red Scarf Ex-voto," The Folk Art of Latin America: Visiones Del Pueblo (New York: Dutton Studio Books in association with the Museum of American Folk Art, 1992), 41.

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