Name/Title
EngravingEntry/Object ID
1986.10.011Description
Engravings from "Histoire Generale des Ceremonies", Benard Picart. Engraving on paper. Amsterdam, Holland. 1720-1730.
Two views on one sheet.
Top view titled, "Penitences Mexicains". (Translation, "Mexican Penitents".) Depicts villagers in or near a building with a large arched entrance way. Around the building, the floor appears to be tiled in alternating squares of black and white. Two men at the right side of the building are holding large stones with angry expressions on their faces. (They are mostly nude.) It seems that they might be hitting each other with these stones. On the left side is a man hitting himself in the back with ropes. Inside the building to the right is a man sitting with a cloth cape. In the back of the building are three men playing horns or pipes (left), a large bowl with a fire in it (middle), and a man in a robe leaning over holding what looks like an incense burner (right). The bakc wall of the building has skulls and crossbones on the curtains. There seems to be a skylight in the ceiling. There is a statue (possibly a real man?) sitting on a platform. He has crossed legs, a headdress. and holds a shield with four spears protruding from it, and holds four spears in his other hand. He wears a large symbol around his neck. Mountains and clouds in right background.
Bottom view titled, "Sacrifice des Captives". (Translation, "Sacrifice of Captives".) Depicts platforms with staircases leading to them. Top platform's base has rows of skulls on its sides between beams. On stairs on left a man is lying face down with arms andlegs outstretched. A man in a cape and headdress is walking down right stairway carrying a small statue. Men with shields and bows and arrows stand on top and bottom platforms. Top platform is where sacrifice takes place. Man lying down, others around him. Two small hut-looking structures with arched doorways and holes in them on top platform.Dimensions
Height
15-1/8 inWidth
9-1/2 inDimension Notes
Sheet: 15 1/8"x 9 1/2"
View: 6"x 8 1/8"