Name that painting

March 31, 2005 8:59 AM

Looking for information on a painting commonly seen on the walls of Mexican restaurants and sometimes sprayed on the hoods of low-riders. It is a scene of what I believe is an Aztec warrior holding a naked woman above his head. It might be a sacrifice scene. What is the name and origin of this painting? Link to a picture would be appreciated. Muchas gracias.
posted by suitcase to society & culture (6 comments total)

(NSFW) Jesus Helguera? Gesto Azteca? Grandeza Azteca? Amor Indio? I've always been partial to "La Conchita" myself.
posted by user92371 at 9:41 AM on March 31, 2005

If you're into this sort of thing. You should get yourself added to these guy's mailing list. They'll send you a catalog every month with all sorts of paintings, posters, homies figures, etc.
posted by pwb503 at 10:38 AM on March 31, 2005

I think that the paintings that you're referencing may be depictions of the Aztec legend of Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl, two Mexican volcanoes seen as the spirits of a pair of ill-fated lovers. In that case, they would not be depicting a sacrificial scene, but one of the the heartbreak experienced by Popoca upon returning from a quest to find his lover, Izta, has died of grief believing him dead. He carries her body to the mountains and the gods, taking pity on them, transform them into volcanic mountains.
posted by xhepera at 1:42 PM on March 31, 2005

It may be artwork by Rowena Morrill. See www.grex.com/rowena/

You may recall that Saddam Hussein had a number of her paintings on the walls of his palaces.
posted by KRS at 2:00 PM on March 31, 2005

Are you wondering about the the actual original painting? Or the origin and symbolism of the scene itself?
posted by snsranch at 6:32 PM on March 31, 2005

snsranch: I am looking for the name of the original painting.
posted by suitcase at 11:17 AM on April 1, 2005