The ancient cities of the New World : being travels and explorations in Mexico and Central America from 1857-1882 . ate manner. They imitatedthe figures of animals, and could mix the metals in such a manner,that the feathers of a bird, or the scales of a fish, should bealternately of gold and silver. They worked the various stones and alabasters with guijarros(a tool made of silex and flint), in the construction of their publicbuildings, entrances and angles of which were frequendy orna-mented with images, sometimes of their fantastic and hideousdeities. Sculptured images were so numerous, tha
The ancient cities of the New World : being travels and explorations in Mexico and Central America from 1857-1882 . ate manner. They imitatedthe figures of animals, and could mix the metals in such a manner,that the feathers of a bird, or the scales of a fish, should bealternately of gold and silver. They worked the various stones and alabasters with guijarros(a tool made of silex and flint), in the construction of their publicbuildings, entrances and angles of which were frequendy orna-mented with images, sometimes of their fantastic and hideousdeities. Sculptured images were so numerous, that the foundationsof the Cathedral in the Plaza Mayor are said to be entirelycomposed of them. They also painted from nature, birds, fish,and landscape, and after their conversion to Christianity, says * Geronimo Mendieta, Historia Ecclesiastica Indiana, lib. iv. chap. xii. 32 The Ancient Cities of the New World. Mendieta, they reproduced admirably our images and reredosfrom Flanders and Italy. The religion of the Aztecs imposed upon their followerscertain forms, in their delineation of the human figure, or the. CLOISTER OF IHE CONVENT OK MERCKD. personification of the Deity, which they were not permitted todiscard ; this explains why we find so many rude images side byside with the most excjuisite work of ornamentation. Ikit to return. No one would stop to look at the Conventdc la Merced v^QXv. it not for its cloisters, the finest in Mexico; Mexico. ss they are composed of white, slender columns, in Moorish style,with indented arches, forming galleries which surround a pavedcourt, the centre of which is occupied by an insignificantfountain. The Convent stands in the middle of a densely populatedsuburb, forniinp- a strikinsf contrast to the tumult and hubbuboutside. The feeling of profound desolation which is felt atgazing on these walls is beyond description, for the silence isonly broken in the rare intervals when an agtiador comes tofill his cantaros and chochocoles (eart
Size: 1664px × 1502px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., booksubjectindiansofcentralamerica, booksubjectindiansofmexico
