Week 6 Flashcards
Terms/photos terms/photos
Biombo [IMPORTANT]
Asian-Inspired folding screen painting. Modeled after Japanese byobu. (Between 1565-1815). Initially made as gifts to Spanish Elites. The first painting was taken by the 4 Japanese Ambassadors (young boys) to King Philip II of Spain and the other to Pope Gregory XIII. More meant for private purposes like being placed in homes like wealthy elites. Some were even sent to Spain
Anonymous, View of the Viceroy’s Palace in Mexico City, 1660 Mexico, 8-panel folding screen, oil on canvas [IMPORTANT]
This is an example of Biombo art. Made out of several pieces of paper pasted together. They were pasted on a wooden framework. They pasted it on both sides. Japanese artists would use materials like vegetables/ink. In some cases they would use gold) gold leaf on this painting). These would make it easier for elites to purchase. A scene of Mexico City. The vice palace is in the background. Women have fancy dresses. This represents the colonial aspect of the Mexican city. Transformed from Aztec rule. The fountain can be a representation of elite identity and status, water is for enjoyment not for drinking. The perspective is from a bird’s eye view (a Japanese technique) The gold clouds were also from Japanese.
Juan Correa, The Four Elements and the Liberal Arts, c. 1670s, oil on canvas supported on wooden frames with a gold-leaf and gesso-embossed border
Large-scale paintings of Biombo. Inspired by European Imagery. On the left, you see 2 of the 4 classical elements: air, fire, earth, and water. Inspired by Flemish engravings. The right side of the screen (back of the painting) shows 5 of the 7 liberal arts: rhetoric, geometry, music, grammar, astronomy, logic, and arithmetic. Inspired by French engravings. Liberal arts is personified by women. They appear in this idyllic landscape and are surrounded by objects that help the viewer identify them. They have ribbons approved by them which tell them what they represent (a figure of grammar, an outstretched arm, and an odd-looking fountain with water pouring up and down. It shows the Roman alphabet).
Palo volador
flying pole
Juego de Palo
Someone tossing a log into the air. It is a performative element.
mitote [IMPORTANT]
dance with a performer impersonating Moctezuma
anonymous, folding screen with Indian wedding, Mitote, and flying pole (biombe con desposorio indigena, mitote y palo volador), meixco, ca. 1660-1690, oil on canvas [IMPORTANT]
Spanish colonial influence with the Catholic church. The wedding is on the right. In front of them is a group of dancers (mitote) The pole dance is in the middle representing Montezuma. On the left is someone performing juego de palo.
enconchado [IMPORTANT]
shell-encrusted painting (concha means shell). It was made in New Spain between 1650-1750. Enconchado paintings are often covered with a coat but it not lacquer. This is linked to Japanese Nanban (Nanban pieces are typical furnishings made for households like miniature coffers, desks, etc.) (uses Lacquers which are a type of varnish that gives the wood a varnish.)
Miquel Gonzales, The Virgin of Guadalupe, 1698, oil on canvas on wood, inlaid with mother-of-pearl. [IMPORTANT]
This is an enconchado painting. The frames of these paintings have ornate imagery (flowers, leaves, birds, clusters of grapes). Typically painted with gold. They use shells to make a mosaic of the Virgin Mary. Her hands are clasped looking downwards and is on a crescent moon support with an angel. Above her is the figure of a dove representing the holy spirit. Below her is an eagle perched on a cactus which appears on the Mexican flag (based on the Aztec people). 4 scenes in the corner depicting the virgin story of Guadalupe. The top right is seeing Virgin Mary on the hill. The bottom left is Juan Diego with roses. Bottom right is Juan Diego going to the bishop showing his tilma. He included symbols of the Old Testament in the frame of the painting like a ladder (a reference to Jacob’s ladder of paradise), a ship (a ship of salvation), and a palm tree.
Virgin of Guadalupe story: Juan Diego goes to the Hill of Tepeyac the shrines of Tonantizon Aztec goddess. Mary tells him to go build a shrine to Bishop Juan de Zumarraga. She gives him proof that she appeared to Juan Diego. He gathers up Castilian roses and his cloak called tilma and he goes up the hill unravels his cloak and she appears on it showing a miracle has happened.
Anonymous artists, Saint Joseph’s Dream and Repentance from Life of the Virgin series, 18th century, shellwork on panel
This is an enconchado painting. There is an elaborate frame. The flowers and leaves in this case are implied, not a specific species. Their shells are used in architecture as a decorative element (not a dominating element), and Saint Joesph is repenting.
Gonzalez workshop, The Battle of Zempoala from the Conquest of Mexico series, 1670-1740, polychrome wood and lacquer, mother of pearl
Enchandos are also used for non-religious subjects. A colorful border on the top and bottom. A lot of fruits are depicted. Has a lot of attention to detail, and a variety of fruits with some of European origin like grapes, and pomegranates (frequently used in Christian imagery associated with fertility, and abundance). They included a fruit called memay from Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. The imagery is invoking an imagery of the Spanish conquest.
Juan Gonzalez, Saint Francis Xavier Embarking for Asia, 1703, oil on wood inlaid with mother-of-pearl
Enconchando. Very colorful and has bred flowers, and grapes. This one in particular has a lot of detail in the frame. The leaves are painted dark green and on top of the painted in a lighter color, the veins of the leaves bring attention to details. Showing a bird lifting a grape. Another bird is opening its mouth to eat a bug. This is the only enconchado painting that shows insects and has flemish techniques within the painting. The iconography depicts Saint Francis who is about to travel the world. He is holding a map of Asia. Behind him, there are personifications of 4 continents (in human form in a single person). Saint Francis went to Asia as part of his mission campaign to spread catholicism and died in China making him a saint. It is less yellow compared to other enconchados.
Agustin del Pino, Saint Ignatius Loyola, early 1700s, oil on board with shell inlay
Agustin del Pino, Saint Francis Xavier, early 1700s, oil on board with shell inlay
Made as a pair. The one on the right has a new frame obscuring the view of the original frame. Both are bust portraits. They both have these beams of light/rays extending from their heads (indicating they are a saint and evoke halos). The left painting of Layolo is holding a book just like the wedding painting of Cuzco school. He wears an elaborate robe compared to the one in Cuzco where in Cuzco he is wearing a black robe which was a part of the Jesuit order.
Juan Correa, Folding screen showing an allegory of the four continents [IMPORTANT]
depicting allegories of the 4 continents, The people is the far left represent America. Middle is Spain and looks at Asia on the right. He is looking at the next place to conquer. The very far right is Africa.
