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An Aztec StatueAuthor(s): E. T. D.Source: Record of the Art Museum, Princeton University, Vol. 9, No. 2 (1950), pp. 13-15Published by: Princeton University Art MuseumStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3774241 .

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AN AZTEC STATUE

r ' -HE Aztec civilization, flourishing in Mexico broadly speak-

ing from 1300-1500, produced an art that was second only

to that of the Mayans.There was often a more harsh andbrusque quality about its sculpture.

The crouching figure of the boy, acquired by our Museumfrom the Brummer Collection, is one of the very finest of a

group of lava-stonefiguresof this period.' Who or what it repre-sents has been a matter of conjecture. The figure squats on the

ground, its knees drawn up close to the body, its armscrossedina tight, hugging gesture with the right hand resting palm up on

the left knee. The head, bound with a jewelled fillet of whichthe centre motif is a form of simple rosette, is twisted over to hisleft side and rests against the upturned palm and the left knee.The form is nude except for a narrow waist-bandvisible aroundthe back as a simple band and gathered together in front in the

shape of a flat, erect knot that appears on other statues of that

period. The back is hunched with the vertebrae of the spine

protruding prominently, suggestingthat the

figure might repre-sent a cripple or paralytic. The wide-open eyes and the partedmouth add to the general effect of pathos so effectively achieved

by the unknown artist in the simple treatment of the anatomical

rhythms of the figure. Viewed from the front, sides, or back,these rhythmic organisations of volumes and lines give a most

extraordinary effect.Several related figures, generally similar in style and of the

same kind of stone, are to be found in the Museo Nacional inMexico City. Two of these, one squatting figure, the other stand-

ing, were shown at the loan exhibition held at the Fogg Museumin 1940.2 Others are in the private collection of Diego Riveras

and in the Musee du Trocadero.4They all have the same type of

loinstrap with braided knot. But there is no parallel that has

1Part Two of the Notable Art Collection belonging to the Estate of the Late

Joseph Bruminer, Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, May, 1949, no. 465. Height,0.365 m. Accession number 49-116.

2 An Exhibition of Pre-Columbian Art, Arranged by the Peabody Museum andthe William Hayes Fogg Art Museum, Cambridge, 1940, p. 18, no. 15.

3 G. Medione, Art in Ancient Mexico, Oxford University Press, 1941, figs. 236,239.

4 Basler and Brummer, L'Art precolumbien, Paris, 1947, pl. 91.

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come to my attention for the twisted pose or for the treatmentof the back. Nor do any of these wear the jewelled fillet. Thereis one figure in the museum in Mexico City, however, that

approximates the pose with the head bent over to one side;5 it

is the figure of the god Xochipilli who seems to be wearing aplain fillet about his head. But the total effect of this piece lacksboth the feeling and the finesse of execution of the Princeton

come to my attention for the twisted pose or for the treatmentof the back. Nor do any of these wear the jewelled fillet. Thereis one figure in the museum in Mexico City, however, that

approximates the pose with the head bent over to one side;5 it

is the figure of the god Xochipilli who seems to be wearing aplain fillet about his head. But the total effect of this piece lacksboth the feeling and the finesse of execution of the Princeton

figure.igure. E. T. D.. T. D.

5 M. Alvarez Bravo and B. Peret, Los Tesoros del Museo Nacional de Mexico,

Mexico, 1943, pl. 9.

5 M. Alvarez Bravo and B. Peret, Los Tesoros del Museo Nacional de Mexico,

Mexico, 1943, pl. 9.

RECENT ACQUISITIONS

IN addition to objects more fully published, the following werereceived between January and July, 1950:

RECENT ACQUISITIONS

IN addition to objects more fully published, the following werereceived between January and July, 1950:

PAINTING

John Wesley Jarvis, "Elizabeth Jarvis."Museum Purchase.

Charles Herbert Moore, "Seated Man."

Gift of Frank Jewett Mather, Jr.Thomas Sully, "Portrait of a Child."

Gift of Bernard Peyton '17.

John Crome, "Farmhouse." Bequest ofMrs. Allan Marquand.

Sir Peter Lely, "Portrait of a Woman."

Bequest of Mrs. Allan Marquand.Herri met de Bles, "The Road to Cal-

vary." Gift of the Friends of theMuseum.

Charles Frangois Daubigny, "The Banksof the Oise." Gift of Mr. EugeneGeddes.

Theodore Rousseau, "La Plaine de

Chailly." Gift of Mr. Eugene Geddes.

SCULPTURE

Buddhist figure, Cambodian, i2th Cen-

tury. C. 0. von Kienbusch, Jr.,

Memorial.Ghiberti, terracotta relief, study for

Red Sea panel of doors of Baptistryin Florence. Given in memory of Mr.and Mrs. Allan Marquand by their

daughters.

PAINTING

John Wesley Jarvis, "Elizabeth Jarvis."Museum Purchase.

Charles Herbert Moore, "Seated Man."

Gift of Frank Jewett Mather, Jr.Thomas Sully, "Portrait of a Child."

Gift of Bernard Peyton '17.

John Crome, "Farmhouse." Bequest ofMrs. Allan Marquand.

Sir Peter Lely, "Portrait of a Woman."

Bequest of Mrs. Allan Marquand.Herri met de Bles, "The Road to Cal-

vary." Gift of the Friends of theMuseum.

Charles Frangois Daubigny, "The Banksof the Oise." Gift of Mr. EugeneGeddes.

Theodore Rousseau, "La Plaine de

Chailly." Gift of Mr. Eugene Geddes.

SCULPTURE

Buddhist figure, Cambodian, i2th Cen-

tury. C. 0. von Kienbusch, Jr.,

Memorial.Ghiberti, terracotta relief, study for

Red Sea panel of doors of Baptistryin Florence. Given in memory of Mr.and Mrs. Allan Marquand by their

daughters.

DRAWINGS

Charles Herbert Moore, three studiesof dog and flowers. Gift of Frank

Jewett Mather, Jr.Nicolas Poussin, two illustrations for

Tasso. Gift of Frank Jewett Mather,

Jr.Pier Leone Ghezzi, "Village Doctor."

Museum Purchase.

Carlo Maratta, two sketches. Museum

Purchase.

Cristoforo Roncalli, two sketches of

figures. Museum Purchase.

PellegrinoTibaldi, sketch for fresco

in the Sala Paolina of Castel Sant'

Angelo. Museum Purchase.

Venetian, 16th century, "Landscape."Museum Purchase (The Caroline G.

Mather Fund).

Juan de las Ruelas, "Adoration of the

Shepherds," "Madonna and Child."Museum Purchase.

PRINTS

Albrecht Diirer, "The Cannon." TheLaura P. Hall Memorial CollectionFund.

Albrecht Glockenton, four engravingsfrom the Passion of Christ. The

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DRAWINGS

Charles Herbert Moore, three studiesof dog and flowers. Gift of Frank

Jewett Mather, Jr.Nicolas Poussin, two illustrations for

Tasso. Gift of Frank Jewett Mather,

Jr.Pier Leone Ghezzi, "Village Doctor."

Museum Purchase.

Carlo Maratta, two sketches. Museum

Purchase.

Cristoforo Roncalli, two sketches of

figures. Museum Purchase.

PellegrinoTibaldi, sketch for fresco

in the Sala Paolina of Castel Sant'

Angelo. Museum Purchase.

Venetian, 16th century, "Landscape."Museum Purchase (The Caroline G.

Mather Fund).

Juan de las Ruelas, "Adoration of the

Shepherds," "Madonna and Child."Museum Purchase.

PRINTS

Albrecht Diirer, "The Cannon." TheLaura P. Hall Memorial CollectionFund.

Albrecht Glockenton, four engravingsfrom the Passion of Christ. The

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