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Aztec Feather Mosaics of the Old and New World
by Megan Meyer Right: Unknown Amantecas, Saint John the Evangelist, (New Spain, 17th century), feather mosaic and paper on copper (Collection of Daniel Liebsohn) The tradition of pre-colonial Aztec featherwork was an important decorative arts form practiced throughout Mesoamerica for purposes such as ceremoniously honoring leaders and paying homage to Aztec gods and goddesses. Under…
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Making Orchid Glue
16 c. Drawing of chichiltictepetzacuxochitl. by Dr. Francisco Hernandez (epiphytic orchid Laelia autumnalis) 16 c. Drawing of amatzauhtli by Dr. Francisco Hernandez (epiphytic orchid Encyclia pastoris) Photography of Laelia pseudo-bulbs. More to come…
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Sacrifice, Purification, and Renewal: Symbolism Behind Conversion
Right: Nave looking toward the mural depicting The Paths to Heaven and Hell, San Pedro Apóstol de Andahuaylillas, Peru (photo: courtesy World Monuments Fund) For the subject of our mosaic, we knew we wanted to adhere to the imagery which was being represented and produced in the early days of Spanish occupied Mexico. The Augustinian Order…
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Feather Collection
Collecting feathers has been a huge hurdle due to strict and important laws in place that prevent the illegal poaching of birds such as the Fishing and Wildlife Services Act. In the collection of feathers for our mosaic, it was important to us to source our feathers as ethically as possible rather than buy them…
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Subject: Annunciation
Right: Gerard David, Netherlandish, Archangel Gabriel; The Virgin Annunciate, ca. 1510 For our own subject, we debated between biblical subjects we knew to have been represented and produced in the early days of Spanish occupied Mexico. Our process was as follows: we first scanned the list of all existing feather mosaics and selected the most…
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Birds of the New World
Nahuatl Name: OuetzaltototlScientific Name: Pharomachrus mocinnoCommon Names: Resplendent Quetzal Nahuatl Name: Tzinitzcan, teutzinutzcanScientific Name: Trogon mexicanusCommon Names: Mountain Trogon, Collared Trogon Nahuatl Name: XiuhtototlScientific Name: Cotinga amabilisCommon Names: Lovely Cotinga Nahuatl Name: TlauhauecholScientific Name: Ajaia AjajaCommon Names: Roseate Spoonbill Nahuatl Name: CuapachtototlScientific Name: Piaya cayanaCommon Names: Squirrel Cuckoo Nahuatl Name: ChalchiuhtototlScientific Name: Cyanerpes cyaneusCommon Names:…
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Symbolism in the Annunciation: Designs for a 15th c. Flemish interior space
Designing an interior bedroom which could have realistically existed in 15th century Flanders that would also be reflective of Mary was a unique challenge. The Annunciation is a scene known for its nuance of symbolism. There are many motifs of lilies in the room as they symbolically reference Mary’s purity and the absence of original sin. The…
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Feather Mosaics at the Met
Unknown Amantecas, Scenes of the Passion, 16th c., Mexico, made of Boxwood, feathers, gold, and enamel, 4.4 x 4.4 cm
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Iridescence and Communication Signals
Right: Ouetzaltototl, Pharomachrus mocinno, Resplendent Quetzal In nature, iridescence is an optical phenomenon often found in nature in butterfly wings, mother of pearl, insect exoskeletons, scales, and bird feathers. On iridescent surfaces, color shifts with changes in the angles of observation and illumination. The phenomenon is often caused when multiple semi-transparent surfaces interact, modulating the…
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Originality in Mass of St. Gregory and The Triumph of the Church
by Henry Xie Right: Mass of Saint Gregory, 1490/1500, Israhel van Meckenem, German, Engraving, 18 5/16 × 11 9/16 in. After the Spanish conquest and the establishment of New Spain, art in America experienced dramatic changes. The forced adoption of Catholicism and European art styles were both used as tools to sustain the Spanish rule…
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Two Gesso Recipes
For gessoing the wood panel, we used art conservator Lorraine Brevig’s recipe. 1 oz rabbit skin glue10 oz distilled waterGilder’s whiting Clearcole is thin hide glue mixed with a small amount of whiting. Applied warm to size the raw wood of the panel.Heat water and glue until dissolved. Pour warm hide glue into large warmed…
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Cultural Exchange and Indigenous Resistance in the Bishop’s Feather Mitre and Berrueco’s Virgen de Guadalupe
by Megan Meyer Right: Virgin of Guadalupe, Luis Berrueco, mid 18th Century, 81 ¾ x 56 ¼ inches, VMFA In this paper, I will be analyzing and comparing two works from the viceroyalty of New Spain: the Virgen de Guadalupe by Luis Berrueco (mid 18th c.) at the Virginia Museum of Fine Art and the…
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Feather Mosaics 