Instituto de Investigaciones Estéticas

About: Instituto de Investigaciones Estéticas is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Painting & Mural. The organization has 45 authors who have published 49 publications receiving 159 citations.

Studies on The Mayan Mortars Technique

Abstract: This paper explores the technology that Mayan artisans used in the preparation of the lime renderings for mural painting. The Mayan mixed lime with some kind of organic material, which presents amino acids in its composition. Mortars from 16 different archaeological sites were analyzed by several analytical methods: optical microscopy followed by specific staining tests over cross sections, gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The first results pointed out that the use of an organic additive in the lime plasters′ substrates of mural paintings was a wide spread technology used in the Maya area -with some variations depending on the site location and its chronology. This finding suggested that the addition of such material would probably modify the mechanical resistance of the lime plaster substrates.

Non Destructive In Situ Study of Mexican Codices: Methodology and First Results of Materials Analysis for the Colombino and Azoyu Codices

Abstract: Little is known about manuscript writing and painting practices in pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica. Around the world, only 16 codices from pre-Hispanic Mexico survived the Spanish conquest, most of them preserved in European collections. Even though the manufacture of codices was widespread during the post-Classical period (1325–1521 AD), the features of the surviving pre-Hispanic and Early Colonial documents show some technical differences that can be related to local traditions. The only pre-Hispanic codex held at a Mexican Collection is the Colombino Codex from the Mixtec coast in the south of Mexico. Nevertheless, many manuscripts produced in New Spain preserved the indigenous codices traditions and practices. These manuscripts are an outstanding information source in terms of the materials used in the writing and colouring traditions. Usually, organic colours obtained from local plants and carbon inks on calcium-rich preparation layers were employed. However, there are few studies of original manuscripts, carried out on a limited number of samples (Gonzalez Tirado 1998), and scarce information has been made available on this subject to date.

La Virgen como territorio: los títulos primordiales de Santa María Nueva España

Abstract: Este es un trabajo de lectura e interpretacion de las imagenes, propio de la historia del arte, entrelazado con un ensayo de historia social y de recepcion de la imagen colonial basado en un imagin...

The teotihuacan ballgame and the beginning of time

Abstract: This paper proposes a reinterpretation of the Tepantitla murals long known as the Tlalocan. Taking into account the numerous representations of different kinds of ballgames on these walls, along with the instances of the Maya glyph for pu, pu or pu[h], or “Place of the Reeds” (i.e. Tollan), this paper argues that this mural represents Teotihuacan as prototypical civilized city associated with the beginning of time and the calendar. Further evidence is provided by the images of “Scattering Priests” in the adjacent room, all of whom wear crocodilian headdresses associated with Cipactli, the first day of the central Mexican calendar. In both rooms, images of Tlaloc with hallucinogenic water-lily buds in his mouth reflect associations with the sun, the calendar, and the underworld. The murals of Tepantitla can be interpreted as a coherent program representing the central role of the ballgame in establishing Teotihuacan as Tollan, the place where time began.