Conquest of Mexico: Sacrifices made by the Indians. Punishment of two Indians. Preaching by Fray Bartolomé de Olmed

Three scenes are depicted in this painting, which is part of a set of 24 panels executed using the cork-work technique by the Spanish painters Juan and Miguel González, who lived in the viceroyalty of New Spain. The upper part of the painting depicts the punishment inflicted on the traitorous Indians and a scene of sacrifice, in which some women are depicted together with some pots and two figures with what appear to be the remains of a human body. In the foreground, the preaching of Fray Bartolomé de Olmedo to Moctezuma. The ensemble, destined for Charles II to add to the royal collections, is executed using the “enconchado” technique. This is applied to a wooden support lined with linen cloth and in some cases a gesso 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=115&inventary=00114&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)