Name/Title
EngravingEntry/Object ID
1986.10.008Description
Engravings from "Histoire Generale des Ceremonies", Benard Picart. Amsterdam, Holland. 1720-1730.
Two views on one sheet.
Top view titled, "Mariage des Mexicans". (Translation, "Marriage of Mexicans".) Depicts a marriage of a man and woman at the foot of the stairs of a temple. The woman is on the left with a veil over her head and face and wearing a skirt of either leaves or feathers. The man is on the right wearing same type of skirt and a crown-like hat. Each has one end of a cape, with is knotted in the middle, draped over their shoulders. Between them is a priest wearing a tall headdress with three long feathers on top. People are gathered on both sides of them, both women and men, most only partially clothed. One woman in the front right side has a baby on her knee. On the left side of the view, several people are wearing capes or skirts of the feathers or leaves, and the men wear headdresses. The people on the right are wearing capes or skirts of cloth. In the background, buildings are visible. On the left, a square building with two windows on top and three on the bottom, and a pointed building. On the right there is a dome-roofed building.
Bottom view titled, "Ceremonies que les Mexicains Pratiquent a l'Egard de leurs Enfans." (Translation, "Ceremonies That the Mexicans Practice on their Infants." Depicts what appears to be a circumcision ceremony. One woman in kneeling on the ground with her arms outstretched. In the bottom left corner is a woven box with variousinstruments in it. On the left side in the back is either a real man, or possibly a statue, seated on a platform, holding a shield with four spears sticking out of it, and holding another spear in his hand. the people who are performing the ceremonies are wearing garments with fringe on the edges and either a braided hairstyle, or hat of some kind. In the right hand background, a baptism appears to be going on. There are three odd-shaped human-looking statues in the wall above the floor.Dimensions
Width
15-3/4 inDepth
1-1/2 inLength
21 inDimension Notes
21" x 15.75" x 1.5".
Sheet: 15 1/8"x 9 1/4"
View: 5 7/8"x 8 1/4"