APAH - ART OF NEW SPAIN

Art of New Spain

Colonial Americas

• Online Resources:

  • Our Lady of Guadalupe – Wikipedia

  • Codex Mendoza – Wikipedia

  • Virgin of Guadalupe – Smarthistory

  • Brooklyn Biombo – Smarthistory

  • Codex Mendoza - Public Domain

The Mexica People

• Ancient rulers of Mexico:

  • They were the Mexica people from Tenochtitlan.

• Historical Roots:

  • They had a swift rise to power.

  • Only 400 years prior, they were nomadic, originating from Aztlan.

  • "Aztec" is derived from Aztlan, encompassing all Central Mexicans.

Tenochtitlan Origins

• Arrival & Settlement:

  • Mexica settled in Valley of Mexico in the thirteenth century on a Lake Texcoco island.

  • The eagle on a cactus was a divine sign to settle.

  • Named their city Tenochtitlan and expanded it into a significant urban center.

• Expansion:

  • In the fifteenth century, with allied support, they started aggressive territorial campaigns.

  • Tenochtitlan became a glittering capital due to tribute.

Tenochtitlan: A Great Metropolis

• Description of Tenochtitlan:

  • Founded around 1325 CE, one of the world's largest cities.

  • Area: 7 sq. miles with a population of 80,000 to 300,000.

• City Layout:

  • The Sacred Precinct was central, with grand temples and sacrificial sites amid smaller homes.

Hernan Cortes' Conquest

• Background:

  • Cortes, a Spanish conquistador, claimed land for Spain in 1519.

  • His written requisition detailed oppression towards the indigenous peoples of Tenochtitlan.

• Defeat of the Aztecs:

  • Contributed to the fall of the Aztecs:

    • Advanced weaponry (guns)

    • Intertribal divisions

    • Diseases brought by Europeans

    • Aztecs' misconception of the Spanish as divine forces.

Spanish Culture Imposition

• Cultural Impact:

  • The Spanish imposed their culture, leading to a blend of traditions.

  • Missionaries converted indigenous populations to Christianity.

• Population Classes:

  • Peninsulares: Spanish born

  • Creoles: Born in the Americas of Spanish descent

  • Mestizos: Mixed European and Native ancestry

  • Mulattoes: Mixed African and European ancestry

Codex Mendoza

• Description:

  • Frontispiece of the Codex Mendoza from 1541-1542.

  • Documentation of 196 years of Mexica/Aztec history; 71 pages total.

• Purpose:

  • Commissioned by Viceroy Mendoza to inform the Spanish crown about the conquered Aztec culture.

  • Illustrated the founding of Tenochtitlan and depicted conquest.

Structural & Symbolic Elements in Codex Mendoza

• City's Layout:

  • Built on artificial islands, interconnected by canals.

  • Templo Mayor as the universe's center.

  • Represented the city's organization mirroring cardinal directions.

• Iconography:

  • Features various vegetation, symbolic structures, and historical figures.

Representation of Leadership

• Main Figure:

  • Tenoch depicted as the primary leader, indicated by speech glyph.

  • Represents authority through attire and posture.

  • Cactus symbolizes growth and settlement.

War Shield Symbolism

• Mexica War Shield:

  • Features 7 eagle feathers and 7 spears, representing power and fertility.

Significance of the Codex

• Cultural Relevance:

  • Provides insight into Aztec history, society, economy, and military structure.

  • The dialectic of Aztec pictorial language and European textual narrative.

Angel with Arquebus

• Artwork Overview:

  • Angel with Arquebus, Asiel Timor Dei by Master of Calamarca, 17th century.

  • Depiction of an archangel in European clothing, holding an arquebus.

• Spiritual Significance:

  • Illustrates military and religious ideas during the Spanish conquest.

The Role of Military Imagery in Art

• Symbolism of Guns:

  • Represented supernatural power to indigenous populations.

  • Reflective of the Church's militaristic structure during the Counter-Reformation.

The Virgin of Guadalupe

• Beliefs:

  • Mary as a beloved intercessor versus a strict God.

  • Her image is deeply interwoven with local culture and identity.

Story of Juan Diego

• Religious Narrative:

  • Juan Diego’s vision of the Virgin, resulting in a miraculous image on his cloak.

  • This moment embodies the intertwining of indigenous spirituality with Catholicism.

Casta Paintings

• Cultural Commentary:

  • Representations of racial and ethnic diversity in New Spain through casta paintings.

  • Detailed genealogy depicted in structured family models.

• Socio-political Context:

  • Reflects 18th-century anxieties regarding racial mixing.

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz

• Portrait by Miguel Cabrera:

  • A depiction showing her intellectual status amidst societal constraints on women.

  • Represented as a scholar, which was rare for women of her time.

• Impact of Censorship:

  • Sor Juana faced criticism for her intellectual pursuits and was forced to renounce scholarly work.