PETRA ‘PEDRO’ HERRERA

400mm X 500mm

A soldier in the Mexican Revolution, she dressed as a man to enlist with Pancho Villa and quickly established a reputation as a fearless soldier and explosives expert. As “Pedro” Herrera, she was well-liked and attained the rank of Captain at which point she decided to reveal her identity as a woman. The revolutionary leaders refused to acknowledge her and declined to promote her to General so she left Villa’s forces and set up her own troop of hundreds of female soldiers. She wouldn’t let men sleep in her camp and used any male soldier that tried to get in as target practice. Petra and her troop went on to sack the city of Torreón - in the biggest battle in the war to that date - which gave Pancho Villa access to heavy artillery, a half million rounds of ammunition, armoured rail cars, etc. And yet still, Herrera was not credited for her role in the battle. She went on to work as a spy for Carranza and got shot three times in a bar by a group of drunken men, and later died of her injuries. Petra was just one of many distinguished female soldiers in the Mexican Revolution - collectively called Adelitas.

This piece is made up of a combination of natural and dyed veneers. She is set in a radial background of Quartered Sycamore.

We can also offer solid timber framing - please enquire for details.