Codex Espangliensis

Codex Espangliensis
Images and Sources
Western Art Contemporary Popular Culture
Roman Catholic Religious Imagery
Mesoamerican Codexes and Deities
Illustrations from Mexican History Pablo Picasso
Les Demoiselles d’Avignon
1907
Oil on Canvas
8’ x 7’8”
MOMA
Salvador Dali
Persistence of Memory
1931
Popular culture references
Superman
Wonder Woman
Mickey Mouse
Andy Warhol
1981
Silkscreened ink on paper
38” x 38”
Text in Spanish
I give infinite thanks to the Holy Child of Plateros for having given me my health after I had a pain in the stomach from becoming used to drinking Coca‐Cola and Pepsi‐Cola refreshments, causing me this pain in the stomach due to the gases and cocaine that these refreshments have. Therefore, seeing myself so ill, I asked the Holy Child of Plateros to give me my health, promising to take him a retablo which I now display to the Holy Child of Atocha.
Eduardo Benegas
The Drum Ranch, Jerez, Zacatecas
June 7, 1961
This modern ex‐voto offers thanks for relief from a modern complaint —
stomach problems. Perhaps this trouble is not as frightening as plague or smallpox, but it was an immediate worry for which Senor Benegas sought remedy in a time‐honored tradition. The painting on this ex‐voto is crude, but unlike most modern ex‐voto paintings, this one does not bear the artist's signature.
Ex‐voto 1961
8 7/8” x 11 ¾”
oil on Masonite
Santo Nino de Atocha
Casein on Tin 5” x 7”
El Nino de Atocha originated at the time of the Moorish invasion of the town of Atocha, Spain. Legend tells of the Moors forbidding anyone to visit the prison full of Christians on errands of mercy except children. The prisoners' families prayed daily for deliverance of their dear ones, knowing that those imprisoned lacked sufficient food. One clay a child dressed as a pilgrim came to the prison carrying a basket, a staff, and a gourd of water. Even after he had served all the prisoners, the basket and gourd were still full.
The Child wears a brimmed hat with a plume (a cockleshell sometimes appears on his hat or costume indicating a pilgrim from Compostela) and a robe and cape. He holds in his left hand a pilgrim's staff and gourd, a few spears of wheat, and a pair of shackles, perhaps referring to his original appearance at the prison in Atocha. In his right hand he holds a basket, which may contain flowers or bread. He usually is shown seated.
The Mystic Vintage
The Biblical inspiration for this allegory comes from Isaiah 63:3: "I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me.“
In this retablo the libation of Christ's blood ‐to atone for the sins of the world is illustrated by blood pouring from his body into a chalice. That he is "the vine" (John 15:1‐8) is demonstrated by a grapevine originating from his body and arching over his head. The seven sheep symbolize the souls of the faithful, and it is not unusual to see the blood flowing into their mouths while they stand on a closed book with seven seals (Revelation 5:1) .
Veronica, El Rostro Divino, or La Santa Faz Veronica, The Veil of Veronica, The Divine Face, or The Holy Face
A commonly seen topic, the legend of Saint Veronica is the subject of this retablo. Veronica was a woman who was moved by compassion at the sight of Christ on his way to Calvary. Pushing her way through the crowds, she wiped the blood and sweat from his face. The imprint of his divine countenance miraculously appeared on the cloth.
Mouth of Hell with Tormented Souls
Source work: The Hours of Catherine of Cleves
Holy cards have had and continue to have a significant role in Catholic devotional life. For example, they may be carried for protection or out of devotion to a particular saint. They are also given as souvenirs of First Communions, Confirmations, Religious Professions, Ordinations and First Masses, Jubilees and anniversaries, and, most often, wakes and funerals.
This illumination from a medieval prayer book depicted damned souls in hell similar to the devotion image used in Codex Espangliensis. It is taken from the prayers for Monday hours of the Dead‐‐Matins
Hand of Power or The Five Persons
Figures represent the Holy Family including Mary’s Mother Ann and her Father, Joachim
Tempera on Tin
10” x 13 ½”
Nahuatl Paper figures
Mexico
Bark paper
Used by Shaman in rituals
Jose Guadalupe Posada
Calavera Catrina engraving
This dapper skeleton was originally published as a broadside in 1910. Mexican muralist, Diego Rivera included a full length homage to this image in his 1947 Hotel del Prado mural.
Posada used his prints as political and social satire. Codex Borgia
Aztec Gods of Life and Death
Codex Nuttall
plate 73
Codex Nuttall
plate 73
The second figure to the left in the upper right is used to create a hybrid figure on page 2 of Codex Espangliensis.