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Conquest of Mexico
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Conquest of Mexico
Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire (1519-21). Construction of the Villa Rica of La Vera Cruz, with the help of the Totonac Indians. Detail. Board 3 belonging to a set of 24 boards made with the enconchado technique (fragments of mother-of-pearl embedded in the wooden surface, and soft layers of paint are added to the shiny surface). Painted by Juan and Miguel Gonzalez (active in the second half of the17th century). Reign of Charles II. Oil on panel and nacre. Viceroyalty of New Spain. Mexico, 1698. Museum of the Americas. Madrid, Spain. Date: 2018
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Media ID 32245710
© Thaliastock / Mary Evans
1698 Americans Americas Architect Aztec Aztecs Colonization Conquest Conquistador Continent Cortes Crane Cruz Facade Foundation Gonzalez Hernan Hernando Indians Juan Labor Labour Materials Mexica Mexico Miguel Pulley Reign Rica Scaffold Scaffolding Spaniards Stones Vera Veracruz Viceroyalty Villa
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This exquisite 17th-century painting, titled "The Construction of the Villa Rica of La Vera Cruz," depicts a significant moment in the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire (1519-1521). The scene unfolds in Mexico during the reign of Charles II, with the help of the indigenous Totonac people. The artists Juan and Miguel Gonzalez masterfully captured this historical event using the enconchado technique, a distinctive art form characterized by the embedding of mother-of-pearl fragments into the wooden surface, followed by soft layers of paint. The painting portrays the foundation of the Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz, an important Spanish settlement, which served as a base for Hernan Cortes' expedition to conquer the Aztec Empire. The architecture in the painting showcases the fusion of European and indigenous styles, with a mixtilinear facade, stone walls, and a crane and scaffolding system used for construction. The laborers, both Spanish and native, are depicted working together, constructing the villa's impressive facade. The scene includes a pulley system and a door, which adds to the intricacy and realism of the artwork. The painting is a testament to the rich history of the Americas during the modern period, a time marked by colonization, cultural exchange, and the blending of architectural styles. This artwork, created in 1698, is now part of the esteemed collection at the Museum of the Americas in Madrid, Spain, offering a glimpse into the past and the complex relationship between the Spanish and the indigenous peoples during the colonial era.
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