Painting. Description: Mexican colonial painting, oil on tin. Civilian with lance (Mariano Flores) meeting 4 soldiers in street. Above in clouds are Christ on the cross and the Virgin Mary (Virgen de los Lagos?). An inscription in Spanish is painted in lower left hand corner: " On the day of October 19 (?) 1821 the citizen, Mariano Flores, encountered a great number of Spanish troops and was badly wounded for his only help was a lance. He prayed the Christ and the Virgin Mary and was healed of his wounds. June 2, 1826." History: This was an ex-voto offering (from the Latin ex-voto, according to a vow). It illustrates an answer to a prayer for the healing of wounds received in the Mexican War for Independence, 1821. From the History Information Station: Object: Painting on copper, executed in Mexico and dated June 2, 1826. The inscription tells the story of Mariano Flores. During the Mexican War for Independence in 1821, Mariano encountered Spanish troops, with a lance as his only defence. He was badly wounded, but prayed to Christ and the Virgin Mary and was healed. History: This painting is an ex voto, a Latin phrase meaning "according to vow." Ex-votos are made to illustrate an answer to a prayer, and as public offerings of thanks to the holy personages invoked, are hung on church walls. The ex-voto is a pictograph with conventional Catholic imagery intended to be easily understood by the viewer. The composition of this ex-voto is very typical. Above the graphic depiction of Mariano's plight are Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. Their images are encased in clouds that tell us they are in heaven. Museum Purchase