Ex-votos: divine thanks for near misses

This ex-voto to Our Lady of "Carmo", is an offering from a couple (Francisco Martins and Maria da Conceição) asking for the full recuperation of their sick daughter (Vicência de Jesus).

This ex-voto to Our Lady of Sorrows from an unidentified believer is also a thanks for the salvation of his/her sick daughter.

Whilst surrounded by fire in Oporto Manuel de Joaquim de Carvalho prayed to S. Sebastian for saviour. This ex-voto is a thanksgiving for his having survived the incident.

Here, an ex-voto, painted on wood, dating from the 19th century, depicts a woman, three boys and a man, on their knees and with hands folded, giving thanks to Our Lady for "exempting a son from becoming a soldier", as detailed in the inscription at the lower section of the painting.

This ex-voto to Our Lady of the ‘Carmo’ is an offering from Joaquim Torixa and his family, who lived in Évora. According to the inscription it is a thank you from the former after his surviving a fall from scaffolding.

This undated ex-voto to Our Lady of the Conception, is a votive offering from Manuel Joaquim for the salvation of his wife during childbirth. In it the mother and new-born child lay next to each other whilst the rest of the family prays for their recovery.

Here we have a votive offering for the salvation of Carlos Ferreira who fell from the height of 50 "palms", while repairing the roof of his house.

In this ex-voto to Our Lady of "Atalaia", a votive offering is made from a ship’s crew for its salvation from a (probable) shipwreck on November 11, 1894

The ex-voto is to Our Lady of the Relics is a votive offering for the salvation of Feliciana Rosa during childbirth.

Here a naive trompe-l'oiel technique has been used, whereby the sick bed has been painted over the frame to create a sense of depth.

Here we have a votive offering from the Priest António Ribeiro, to Saint Anthony for having been saved from a false accusation.