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Froglegged Lady depicted on the Sevilla la Nueva Pillars at the National Gallery of Jamaica.
Sevilla la Nueva was the first Spanish settlement of importance on the island of Jamaica. It was settled in 1510 AD, but abandoned on the order of the King in 1534. Although it wasn’t really successful as a settlement it represents an important episode in the early colonial history of Jamaica.
Although its locations had been forgotten for more than 4 centuries in the late thirties of the last century local archaeological enthusiast Charles Cotter succeeded in uncovering architectural remains that were probably part of the Governor’s house or of the first stone Christian church in the Americas (paid for by the well-known Peter Martyr of Anghiera who never visited the island, but still was Jamaica's " bishop at a distance"). The column that is this Artefact of the Week is one of several such columns found by Cotter.
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| From Charles Cotter 1948's publication on the pillars |
It is done in a typical European style called platteresque, depicting lush foliage and four Grotesques (mythical creatures). When I visited the National Gallery of Jamaica I immediately noticed that the centre figure had much in common in terms of form and symbolism with the famous frog-legged Mother Goddess that is known as Atabeyra (see last week’s Artefact of the Week for more info). After consulting with my sister (an art history student) it turned out that the form of this Grotesque is unknown from this period in Europe. It also turned out that these pillars were probably crafted by the original inhabitants of Jamaica as part of the services they were required to deliver under the encomienda-system.
We therefore suspect (and will explore this possibility in an upcoming paper) that this figure is indeed a syncretistic variation on the Caribbean frog-legged mother that was done in a style that was recognizable to the Spaniards, but with a symbolism and form that was distinctly Caribbean.
Next week the last of my triptych on the Caribbean frog-legged mother goddess!
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ReplyDeleteI would consider looking into the studies from Mesoamerican art history. There exists a considerable body of research into what is known as 'tequitqui' iconography: The (mostly religious) sculptures and carvings produced by indigenous specialists but under direction of Spanish friars. Reyes-Valerio has done a detailed study a few years ago under the name of Arte Indocristiana.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
AG
Those dintells are attributed to the circle of Lorenzo Vázquez de Segovia, one of the introductors of Renaissance in Spain. The church build by Pedro Mártir de Anglería is dated on 1510. Tequitqui Art (better than Arte Indocristiano) is more significative in México, later. Early works as the jamaican dintells must be considered as works made by the first spaniards artists in Caribbean area.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Spain and thanks for the pics!!