MUSEUM news
26
Aztec Treasures
STUTTGART—An important exhibition
marking the fi ve hundredth anniversary
of Hernán Cortés’ conquest of Mexico
opens its doors at the Linden-Museum
on October 12, 2019, and its narrative
follows the Spanish progress from the coast to the capital
of Tenochtitlan. In collaboration with the Nationaal
Museum van Wereldculturen, the museum has sought
to create a unique exhibition that incorporates the most
recent scientifi c data that has come to light—the recent
archaeological discoveries, for example, brought to light
by major excavation projects at the Templo Mayor in
Mexico. At the same time, the museum highlights and
showcases the diversity, wealth, and vivacity of Aztec
art through examples representing the various forms
that this legendary Pre-Columbian people produced,
while avoiding the cultural clichés that arose in the
eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Sculptures, jewelry,
codices, and feather mosaics provide comprehensive
and complete insights into the history of the Aztecs, a
society of conquerors steeped in religious beliefs. The
presentation of two of the four known Aztec feathered
shields, as well as of a stunning greenstone carved fi gure
of the Aztec tutelary deity Quetzalcoatl, are especially
noteworthy. The exhibition includes many works on loan
from major European and Mexican museums and will
remain on view until May 3, 2020.
BELOW: Shield. Aztec;
Mexico. C. AD 1520.
Wood, wicker, fl eece, feathers,
rawhide. D: 75.5 cm.
© Landesmuseum Württemberg,
Photo: Hendrik Zwietasch.
RIGHT: Effi gy of
Quetzalcoatl. Aztec; Mexico.
AD 1500–1520.
Greenstone, coral, spondylus shell.
© Landesmuseum Württemberg,
Photo: Hendrik Zwietasch.
TOP: Ceremonial container
for agave.
Aztec; Mexico.
Before AD 1520.
© KHM Museumsverband,
Weltmuseum Vienna.
ABOVE: Covered box.
Aztec; Mexico.
Before AD 1520.
Greenstone.
© MARKK, Hamburg.
Photo: Paul Schimweg.
LEFT: Sculpture of Xochipilli.
Aztec; Mexico.
Before AD 1520.
Stone.
© Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen.
Mannheim, photo : Jean Christen.