Conquest of Mexico: Attack on Montezuma

Moctuzuma is accompanied by a group of Spaniards on the balcony of a European-looking building. On the rooftop is the eagle with the nopal holding the macuahitl, an obsidian sword, at the moment when Moctezuma addresses his people to ask them to cease the war against the Spaniards. Many of the Indians, neither understanding nor listening to their ruler, show an aggressive attitude towards him. The work by the Mexican painters Miguel and Juan González was commissioned for Charles II. The work is painted using the technique of “enconchado”. This is applied to a wooden support lined with linen cloth and in some cases a plaster preparation is applied, fragments of nacre are applied with animal glue and then covered with the pictorial layer.

Collection: Images

Project: 6. Under a cloak of terror: violence and armed conflict in Europe., 9. Travels and travelers: economic, social and cultural connections.

Chronology: XVI

Scope: Secondary education, Baccalaureate, University

Link: http://ceres.mcu.es/pages/Main?idt=117&inventary=00116&table=FMUS&museum=MAM

Resource type: Image

Format: Oil on panel (116 x 68 cm)

Source: Museo de América (Madrid, España)

Language: Spanish

Date: 1698

Owner: Álvaro Romero González (Modernalia)