Conquest of Mexico: Cortés’ imprisonment

Miguel and Juan González, painters who settled in Mexico at the end of the 17th century, produced a series of 24 commissions on the theme of the Conquest of Mexico for Charles II. This scene depicts the moment when Cortés is taken prisoner by the Mexicans and then rescued by the soldier Cristóbal de Olea in a fierce battle. At the same time, various Spanish and indigenous soldiers are shown, some of them with Spanish weapons and the rest with the characteristic obsidian sword, the macuahuitl. The work is executed 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=121&inventary=00120&table=FMUS&museum=MAM

Resource type: Image

Format: Oil on panel (97 x 53 cm)

Source: Museo de América (Madrid, España)

Language: Spanish

Date: 1698

Owner: Álvaro Romero González (Modernalia)