Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-21
RARE PAINTINGS
IN OLD MEXICO
MANY FOUND BY LOVERS OF
ART
MuriIIo In the City Of Mexico cathe.
dral-SkiIIed Artists from Spain
Worked for Years on Church
Decorations

IL
United States, If they have never vis-
tied Mexico to believe that this new
old neighbor is a treasure house OF arr
The existence of old masters in Mex
leo has been more tabled than real IN
our minds and many have smiled at
the credulity of the unlearned masses
of this embryonic republic. 1t Is true
that the unquestioning majority know
nothing and think nothing of picture
except what the padre tells them, but
1t must be remembered that the men
who rule the destinies of Mexico are
educated, travelled, cultured In the
schools and universities of the OLD
world and are eminently capable or ap-
preciating the fine arts. Furthermore,
SAYS a writer in Modern Mexico, tney
are all Catholics, and hence are i'm
bued with the traditional reverence
for religious art that we cannot wholly
comprehend. 1t might be said that this
very reverence would incapacitate
them as impartial critics of this art.
but be this as 1T may, 1t has served
a purpose invaluable to the student OF
today
The church was very rich In the
seventeenth century and amply able to
send works of art of great value to
Mexico and other colonies. 1t was also
the period when art fiourished at Its
best in Spain-when Murillo lived and
Seville was a great art center.
The missionary priests in Mexico soon
discovered that the Indians were not
able to comprehend the spirit of the
Christian religion and that they must
substitute pictures and images of the
Christ for the heather gods and idols
hthey were trying to supplant. Churches,
converts and chapels were multiplied
rapidly after the conquest, and II pc
I.,fxF nVr1 nj a {
by an order of Cortez, to bring paint
ings ana statutes of saints to the New
World.
Two Skilled copylsts
From about the year 1000 there lived
in Mexico for forty years two artists
who were skilled copyists and imita-
tors. These were Baitasar Echave and
his wife, known as La Sumays. They
painted in both the Italian and Dutcn
styles, and Echave often initiated Titan
fairly well. Other Spanish artists VINO
emigrated to this country and lived ana
painted here throughout the seven
teenth century established what Is
known as the Old Mexican school ana
left many good works-many 30 good
that 1t is easy to establish their identity
and distinguish them from the Old
World work.
The Mexican school of art, now called
lished by the royal order of Charles
III of Spain in 17S. and has survived
throughout many vicissitudes. 1t con-
tains a fine collection of paintings of
the old Mexican school and a number
of originals from European painters.
Among the latter there Is a "St. Sc
bastian" by Van Dyke; THE Seven
Man" by Michael Angelo; "St. Cath
crime" by Guido; portrait of Murillo by
Velasquez; Burial of Christ" by Ru-
bens (unfinished) "St. John the Bap-
tist" by Ingress; John of the Lord"
by Murillo; "Olympic Plays. by Ver-
net, and many fine copies. OF the mod
ern school there are many fine mer-
itorious Mexican paintings illustrative
of important historical scenes.
In the cathedral of Mexico City there
is a Holy Family by Murillo hung in
the choir concerning whose authen-
ticity there seems to be no question.
The mother and child are about three
quarter size and the prevailing colors
a luminous cream, with touches of gold
and brown.
In the dark sacristy the visitor is
shown three Raphaels under glass and
on the walls two immense but afro
ciously mutilated pictures attributed to
Valasquez.
One of the most interesting stories
always current in Mexico art circles
concerns the famous Titan at the viii
lage of Tzintzuntzan. Many attempts
have been made to purchase this pic
ture but all have been unsuccessful.
The Cathedral of Mexico would give
large sum for 1t and so, of course,
would the San Carlos academy. but the
priests of the dilapidated church where
1t hangs in a poorly lighted room guard
it jealously. Moreover, 1t is supposed
that their lives would not be safe from
the wrath of the Indian worshipers.
should they permit the painting to dis
ar~ear.
Is Well Preserved
The painting is sixteen feet long by
seven high and represents the en-
tombing of Christ In the upper left
hand corner is the characteristic bit of
Italian sky and landscape. There is no
proof that Titan painted this picture
except its own beauty 'and rare ex-
cellence, and the tradition which has
never wavered in the 300 years and
more that 1t has hung In the old church
at Tzintzuntzan. The room that holds
1t is about 30x20 feet and has but one
outside opening, an unglazed window,
protected by a triple iron grating on
the outside and double wooden shut
ters on the inside. Every time these
are opened the fresh air has ingress to