GENERAL DESCRIPTION
One of the hallmarks of Aztec art is sculpture in stone, which ranges in scale from colossal monuments to smaller portable objects. Themes for smaller-scale sculpture included male and female deities and naturalistically rendered plants and animals. The coiled serpent was a favorite among the animals. In Aztec thought, the undulating movement and speed of the serpent were associated with water and lightning. The serpent could therefore be a symbol for water and fertility. The Templo Mayor at the heart of Mexico’s capital represented Snake Mountain, the place of creation.
Excerpt from
Carol Robbins, Label text, A. H. Meadows Galleries, 2010.
NOTES
JR 2018----CANNOT ARCHIVE BECAUSE LOAN
- Aztec, 1350–1521, NOT updated by KJones in TMS.
- Long-term loan, known Provenance:
- Until 1991: Private Collection [1], [2]
- From 1991: Dallas Museum of Art, on long-term loan from the above [1], [2]
- [1] The main source for this provenance is existing information in TMS. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
- [2] Josefowitz Collection (Nicholas Josefowitz), Switzerland is the Private Collection.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619
Aztec: AAT: 300017033
Mexica (Aztec): AAT: 300017033
Geography
Mexico (nation): TGN: 7005560
Process/materials
basalt (basic igneous rock): AAT: 300011222
stone: AAT: 300011176
carving: AAT: 300053149
incising: AAT: 300053847
polishing (finishing): AAT: 300053867
drillwork (sculpture technique): AAT: 300186211
Historical periods
Postclassic (Mesoamerican period): AAT: 300016987
Late Postclassic: AAT: 300134119
Individuals
Subject terms
sculpture: AAT: 300047090
ritual objects: AAT: 300312158
effigies (funerary sculpture): AAT: 300047108
portable: AAT: 300256252
figures (representations): AAT: 300189808
supernatural (concepts): AAT: 300055947
animals: DMA
serpents (snakes/Serpentes suborder): AAT: 300250870
rattlesnake (subfamily Crotalinae / pit vipers): DMA
tongue (animal or human components): DMA
fangs (teeth): DMA
water: AAT: 300011772
lightning: AAT: 300068795
fertility: AAT: 300379149
Creation Mountain (Mesoamerican doctrinal / religious concept): DMA
Templo Mayor (historic structure): TGN: 7032716
Tenochtitlán (Mexico City): TGN: 7007227
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
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General Description
One of the hallmarks of Aztec art is sculpture in stone, which ranges in scale from colossal monuments to smaller portable objects. Themes for smaller-scale sculpture included male and female deities and naturalistically rendered plants and animals. The coiled serpent was a favorite among the animals. In Aztec thought, the undulating movement and speed of the serpent were associated with water and lightning. The serpent could therefore be a symbol for water and fertility. The Templo Mayor at the heart of Mexico’s capital represented Snake Mountain, the place of creation.
Excerpt from
Carol Robbins, Label text, A. H. Meadows Galleries, 2010.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
JR 2018----CANNOT ARCHIVE BECAUSE LOAN
- Aztec, 1350–1521, NOT updated by KJones in TMS.
- Long-term loan, known Provenance:
- Until 1991: Private Collection [1], [2]
- From 1991: Dallas Museum of Art, on long-term loan from the above [1], [2]
- [1] The main source for this provenance is existing information in TMS. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
- [2] Josefowitz Collection (Nicholas Josefowitz), Switzerland is the Private Collection.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619
Aztec: AAT: 300017033
Mexica (Aztec): AAT: 300017033
Geography
Mexico (nation): TGN: 7005560
Process/materials
basalt (basic igneous rock): AAT: 300011222
stone: AAT: 300011176
carving: AAT: 300053149
incising: AAT: 300053847
polishing (finishing): AAT: 300053867
drillwork (sculpture technique): AAT: 300186211
Historical periods
Postclassic (Mesoamerican period): AAT: 300016987
Late Postclassic: AAT: 300134119
Individuals
Subject terms
sculpture: AAT: 300047090
ritual objects: AAT: 300312158
effigies (funerary sculpture): AAT: 300047108
portable: AAT: 300256252
figures (representations): AAT: 300189808
supernatural (concepts): AAT: 300055947
animals: DMA
serpents (snakes/Serpentes suborder): AAT: 300250870
rattlesnake (subfamily Crotalinae / pit vipers): DMA
tongue (animal or human components): DMA
fangs (teeth): DMA
water: AAT: 300011772
lightning: AAT: 300068795
fertility: AAT: 300379149
Creation Mountain (Mesoamerican doctrinal / religious concept): DMA
Templo Mayor (historic structure): TGN: 7032716
Tenochtitlán (Mexico City): TGN: 7007227
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
source file
object_notes_2_b-0052.xml.nores