[St. Benedict the African. (1526 - 1589)]. 1843 Mexican Retablo Painting of St. Benedict of Palermo, "Black America’s Patron Saint". Oil on tin retablo painting depicting San Benito de Palermo, also known as "the Holy Black", who is the patron Saint of Negro Slaves in America and the Saint invoked against smallpox. He is shown here in his blue Franciscan robes, standing beside a table that holds a skull and a scourge, also shown with his saintly attributes: the flaming sacred heart on his chest and a large crucifix. The piece is signed "B.J.Mexico Marzo 10 de 1843" on the floor at the left side of the saint. In fine condition, with some bending to corners and an area of paint loss and staining above the head of the figure, small chips to his right arm. 10.5" x 8.25"

"The Italian black Catholic saint’s name was Benedict, of Palermo, Sicily, and he was the son of African slaves. In life, Benedict was an ascetic healer who devoted his life to the humble teachings of St. Francis; in death, he was used by the Church and colonial European powers to convert African slaves to Roman Catholicism. But he was genuinely adored as a grassroots saint who also inspired black identity and pride. While he was not the first black saint in church history, he was the first to pass through the gauntlet of canonization after authority over the process passed exclusively to the pope in Rome. In February 2013, The Economist magazine described Benedict as “the patron saint of African-Americans,” noting that “churches devoted to his name can be found as far afield as Buenos Aires, Bahía and the Bronx.” (Henry Louis Gates Jr., "Who Is Black America’s Patron Saint?" on www.theroot.com, published April 7 2014)

The year of the present work, 1843, was an important year in the fight for the abolition of slavery worldwide. It was in that year that the East India Company became increasingly controlled by Britain and abolished slavery in the territories controlled by the company, through the Indian Slavery Act, 1843, Act V. Treaties were signed by Britain to suppress the slave trade with Uruguay, Chile, Bolivia and Mexico.