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Romantic Visualities and the Construction of Mexico, 1804-1844

Curated by Matthew Francis Rarey (Oberlin College)
ruins

This gallery explores the work of artists and explorers in Mexico and Central America between 1804 and 1844. Romantic explorers visually constructed Mexican history, archaeology, and geography in relation to Romantic conceptions of the picturesque landscape. Their depictions were further complicated by the contemporaneous tension between the visual technologies of the panorama and the camera lucida. Consequently, explorers in Mexico were forced to negotiate between the cultural implications of Romantic visualities—of the sublime and of the picturesque—and the values of Romantic exploration and enlightenment, such as encyclopedic recording and faithful representation.

Date Published

Date Published
June 2023

Exhibit Items

A description of a view of Thebes

Robert Burford, Frederick Catherwood

This image, created by Robert Burford, gives panoramic views of both the Temple of Karnak and the city of Thebes. It was based upon the original drawings of Frederick Catherwood, unique in that they were created with the help of a camera lucida.

A Description of a view of Thebes, now exhibiting at the Panorama, Broadway, corner of Prince and Mercer Streets, New-York

Giant head from Copán

Stephen Henry Gimber
In collaboration with Frederick Catherwood

This image—rendered using a camera lucida—depicts a monument from the pre-Columbian Maya city, Xukpi, now known as Copán.

Gigantic Head (from Copán)

Ruins at Uxmal

George Endicott

This lithograph depicts a portion of the ruins of Uxmal.

Governor's House, Uxmal Ruins

Moonlight at the Uxmal Ruins

George Endicott

This lithograph depicts a portion of the ruins of Uxmal.

Moonlight, Uxmal Ruins

pyramid

Alexander von Humboldt

Other than maps, this is the only major landscape image Alexander von Humboldt produced in Mexico.

Pyramide de Cholula

Stone idol from Copán

Stephen Henry Gimber
In collaboration with Frederick Catherwood

This image—rendered using a camera lucida—depicts a monument from the pre-Columbian Maya city, Xukpi, now known as Copán.

Stone Idol, front view (from Copán)

Pyramid at Uxmal

George Endicott

This lithograph depicts a portion of the ruins of Uxmal.

The Pyramid, Uxmal Ruins

pyramid

Pedro José Marquez

Pedro Marquez' 1804 book contains the first scientific illustrations of Mexican archaeology to be produced in Europe.

Untitled (Tav. 1; Pyramid at El Tajín)

Ruins at Uxmal


In collaboration with Frederick Catherwood

This image—rendered using a camera lucida—depicts ruins of the city of Uxmal in Mexico.

Uxmal: House of the Dwarf and House of the Nuns

panoramic vista of Valley of Mexico.

William Bullock
In collaboration with John Heaviside Clark

During the Romantic period, panoramas—particularly those of exotic places—emerged as a popular form of public entertainment (Comment 7-8).

View of the City and the Valley of Mexico, from Tacubaya

Exhibit Tags

Exhibit Tags
latin america
mexico
picturesque
panorama
sublime

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