This magnificent terracotta sculpture of a
standing man brings us the precious clues of an
Ancient culture that flourished more than a
thousand years ago. Skillfully burnished, the
sculpture is red-slipped in rich, earthy color the
exquisite details depicted in the sculpture
delight our eyes, while giving us clues about the
significance of this Ancient person. Adorned with
bodily decorations, the person must have been
an important or an established figure in the
Ancient village. He wears a headdress decorated
with white paint and two oval attachments. Also,
he wears ear spools, a nose ring, necklaces, and
shoulder scarification. And against the rich,
reddish surface glows a white painted cloth that
is slung over the right shoulder. His bold face
enhanced with painted patterns looks upward,
with his eyes wide open. His mouth is also
slightly open, revealing finely carved teeth. With
every feature of the figure skillfully and
attentively sculpted, the figure seems almost
alive. Found in a shaft tomb in Ancient west
Mexico, perhaps this sculpture possesses a
benevolent spirit that accompanied the deceased
into the underworld. As beautiful and special the
sculpture is even today, it surely must have been
the centerpiece of the funeral ritual. As we look
into the figure, we can feel the Ancient spirits
and hands that sculpted it so lovingly.
- (PF.3368)
|
