Devotions for Paradise
The village of Kanxoc is within the municipality of Valladolid in eastern Yucatan, an area of fascinating history, archaeological sites, architectural monuments, natural attractions and deeply-rooted Mayan traditions.
The linguist Alfredo Barrera Vásquez states that the meaning of the village name is uncertain, since it could refer to a shark or porpoise, or it may derive from the words kan (yellow, precious, jade) and xoc (bead or counter), which would translate as “the beautiful bead”. On the other hand, friar Diego López Cogolludo refers to the village by the name of Tekanxoc, which was a visiting church within the parish of Valladolid.
The patrons of Kanxoc church are the physician saints Cosmas and Damian, whose statues are housed in niches in the church’s main reredos, dating from the 18th century. One of the side altars is dedicated to the Virgin of the Rosary and the Souls in Purgatory, whose image is painted in oils on fabric.
The painting is part of a tradition of “altars for the departed”, which were especially for the celebration of masses for the souls of the deceased. It was completely restored in 2012 under the auspices of the “Adopt an Artwork Yucatan” Association.
At the bottom of the painting are nine characters, semi-naked men and women who are expiating their sins in the flames of Purgatory. Mary is seated on cloud, or effulgence of glory, depicted as a Madonna with the Christ Child in her lap. In her right hand she delicately holds a rosary, which she offers to the souls in Purgatory. They in turn reach up to clasp it and so gain salvation.
The painting therefore has a clear doctrinal purpose, as it aims to show the faithful who contemplate it that through their devotions to Mary and by saying the rosary they can attain heavenly Paradise. The style of the figures and the use of color suggest that it is the work of an anonymous local painter, perhaps from the 18th century.
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