The first of March 1932 seemed like any other working day for the miners of La Paz in Mexico. They donned their helmets, picked up their shovels and descended the shaft ready to dig.
But on this day disaster struck; the roof fell in burying Espiridon Suniga and Juan Martines.
Fearing the worst their fellow miners desperately dug away at the debris, but when they reached the men Juan Martines was already dead.
Seriously injured, seeing his deceased colleague lying by his side, Espiridon Suniga feared his fate would be the same and he fervently prayed to St Francis of Assisi to save his life.
In 2008 the life of Cristobel Munoz also hung in the balance. Born six weeks early, underdeveloped and weighing less than 3lbs, his parents feared their son would not survive.
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There is a definite contractual element - deliver my needs and I will repay you with a painting”
Antonia Bruce Exhibition Co-curator
Like the miner, 70 years before him, Cristobel's father, Martinez Munoz, fell back on his faith. And like Espiridon Suniga, his prayers were answered and his son survived.
What connects these two tales of life and death across the decades is a rich Mexican Catholic tradition.
Having received divine intervention both Espiridon Suniga and Martinez Munoz repaid the debt by commissioning a retablo, or votive painting - small, colourful depictions of their moments of crisis - to celebrate the saintly intervention and give thanks for that help.
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