GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Perhaps the most gruesome image created by the Aztecs is Xipe Totec, a living man (probably a cult priest) who wears on his head and torso the flayed skin of a sacrificed human. Often, as here, the skin shows the great chest wound that resulted from the victim’s heart having been ripped from him in an act of ritual sacrifice. Xipe’s mouth speaks through the other’s mouth, and his eyes look out through the eye sockets of the dead man.
Yet, the Aztecs associated Xipe with spring, the renewal of the world, and sprouting green plants. As the new plant fed upon the decaying seed mass, so the living Aztec performer wore the skin of a nurturing sacrifice until it rotted. If Xipe’s impersonation of life through death was successful, rain would come and the annual renewal of the agricultural cycle would occur.
Excerpt from
Carol Robbins, Label text, A. H. Meadows Galleries, 2010.
NOTES
Aztec (Mexica), Late Postclassic period, 1350–1521 (noted on TMS), updated by KJones on 10/15/13, 06/19/14, and 02/26/16.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619
Aztec: AAT: 300017033
Mexica (Aztec): AAT: 300017033
Geography
Mexico (nation): TGN: 7005560
Mexico City (inhabited place): TGN: 7007227
Tenochtitlán (Mexico City): TGN: 7007227
Process/materials
volcanic stone (extrusive rock): AAT: 300011246
stone: AAT: 300011176
shell (animal material): AAT: 300011829
inlays (decorations): AAT: 300256003
shell inlay (decorations): DMA
paint (coating): AAT: 300015029
pigment: AAT: 300013109
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
sculpture in the round: AAT: 300047264
figures (representations): AAT: 300189808
mouths (animal or human components): DMA
masks (costume): AAT: 300138758
faces (animal or human components): AAT: 300251798
eyes (animal or human components): AAT: 300400484
earspools: AAT: 300209300
mythical or legendary beings: AAT: 300375725
deities: AAT: 300343850
Xipe Totec (Our Lord the Flayed One / Central Mexican deity of agriculture / rebirth): DMA
priests: AAT: 300025774
skin (animal component): AAT: 300400555
flayings (executions): AAT: 300404339
deaths: AAT: 300151836
sacrifices: AAT: 300263243
blood: AAT: 300011797
bloodletting (self-sacrifice / ritual): DMA
offering (tribute / payment / economic concepts /social science concepts): DMA
spring (season): AAT: 300133097
life (biological concepts): AAT: 300055134
growth: AAT: 300055136
plants (living organisms): AAT: 300132360
fertility: AAT: 300379149
rot (condition changing (processes): AAT: 300380016
rain (precipitation / weather): AAT: 300055377
agriculture (sciences): AAT: 300054463
impersonation (impersonators / concepts / people): DMA
supernatural (concepts): AAT: 300055947
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
n.d: Dr. and Sra. Josué Sáenz, Mexico, D.F. [1], [2]
Until 1973: Edward H. Merrin Gallery, Inc. [1], [2], [3]
From 1973: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene McDermott, the McDermott Foundation, and Mr. and Mrs. Algur H. Meadows and the Meadows Foundation, Incorporated, purchased from the above [1], [2], [3], [4]
[1] The main source for this provenance is existing information in TMS. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[2] The main source for this provenance is Collections Worksheet (n.d., copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[3] The main source for this provenance is Acquisition Worksheet (dated March 13, 1973, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[4] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 1973.65
Category
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General Description
Perhaps the most gruesome image created by the Aztecs is Xipe Totec, a living man (probably a cult priest) who wears on his head and torso the flayed skin of a sacrificed human. Often, as here, the skin shows the great chest wound that resulted from the victim’s heart having been ripped from him in an act of ritual sacrifice. Xipe’s mouth speaks through the other’s mouth, and his eyes look out through the eye sockets of the dead man.
Yet, the Aztecs associated Xipe with spring, the renewal of the world, and sprouting green plants. As the new plant fed upon the decaying seed mass, so the living Aztec performer wore the skin of a nurturing sacrifice until it rotted. If Xipe’s impersonation of life through death was successful, rain would come and the annual renewal of the agricultural cycle would occur.
Excerpt from
Carol Robbins, Label text, A. H. Meadows Galleries, 2010.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
Aztec (Mexica), Late Postclassic period, 1350–1521 (noted on TMS), updated by KJones on 10/15/13, 06/19/14, and 02/26/16.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Pre-Columbian (American): AAT: 300016619
Aztec: AAT: 300017033
Mexica (Aztec): AAT: 300017033
Geography
Mexico (nation): TGN: 7005560
Mexico City (inhabited place): TGN: 7007227
Tenochtitlán (Mexico City): TGN: 7007227
Process/materials
volcanic stone (extrusive rock): AAT: 300011246
stone: AAT: 300011176
shell (animal material): AAT: 300011829
inlays (decorations): AAT: 300256003
shell inlay (decorations): DMA
paint (coating): AAT: 300015029
pigment: AAT: 300013109
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
sculpture in the round: AAT: 300047264
figures (representations): AAT: 300189808
mouths (animal or human components): DMA
masks (costume): AAT: 300138758
faces (animal or human components): AAT: 300251798
eyes (animal or human components): AAT: 300400484
earspools: AAT: 300209300
mythical or legendary beings: AAT: 300375725
deities: AAT: 300343850
Xipe Totec (Our Lord the Flayed One / Central Mexican deity of agriculture / rebirth): DMA
priests: AAT: 300025774
skin (animal component): AAT: 300400555
flayings (executions): AAT: 300404339
deaths: AAT: 300151836
sacrifices: AAT: 300263243
blood: AAT: 300011797
bloodletting (self-sacrifice / ritual): DMA
offering (tribute / payment / economic concepts /social science concepts): DMA
spring (season): AAT: 300133097
life (biological concepts): AAT: 300055134
growth: AAT: 300055136
plants (living organisms): AAT: 300132360
fertility: AAT: 300379149
rot (condition changing (processes): AAT: 300380016
rain (precipitation / weather): AAT: 300055377
agriculture (sciences): AAT: 300054463
impersonation (impersonators / concepts / people): DMA
supernatural (concepts): AAT: 300055947
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
n.d: Dr. and Sra. Josué Sáenz, Mexico, D.F. [1], [2]
Until 1973: Edward H. Merrin Gallery, Inc. [1], [2], [3]
From 1973: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene McDermott, the McDermott Foundation, and Mr. and Mrs. Algur H. Meadows and the Meadows Foundation, Incorporated, purchased from the above [1], [2], [3], [4]
[1] The main source for this provenance is existing information in TMS. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[2] The main source for this provenance is Collections Worksheet (n.d., copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[3] The main source for this provenance is Acquisition Worksheet (dated March 13, 1973, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File). Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[4] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1973.65
source file
object_notes_3_a-0709.xml.nores