16 to 18 Century Religious Materiality in Michoacán A
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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE Materials of the Sacred: 16th to 18th Century Religious Materiality in Michoacán A Thesis submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Art History by Dominique Elise Garcia March 2012 Thesis Committee: Dr. Stella Nair, Chairperson Dr. Kristoffer Neville Dr. Jennifer Scheper Hughes Dr. Karl A. Taube Copyright by Dominique Elise Garcia 2012 The Thesis of Dominique Elise Garcia is approved: Committee Chairperson University of California, Riverside Acknowledgements This thesis was a life-consuming endeavor that was made possible by several funding opportunities, as well as numerous individuals whose guidance, support, and comments helped me to truly achieve my goals. First, I would like to thank the University of California, Riverside for the Humanities Graduate Student Research and Graduate Dean’s Master’s Thesis Research Grants that made my initial travel to Michoacán in the summer of 2010 possible. My fieldwork and research in the summer of 2011 in Mexico City, which lead to my fully developed thesis and conclusions, was made possible through the Rupert Costo Native American Research Endowment. It was through the encouragement and guidance of my academic advisor and thesis chair, Dr. Stella Nair, that my intellectual ideas were applied to this thesis. Dr. Karl Taube’s invaluable knowledge and resources of Mesoamerican cultures and religions was a true contribution to my understanding of the P'urhépecha. Dr. Kristoffer Neville’s critical and informed eye was essential to my ability to write a comprehensive art historical work. Dr. Jennifer Schepher Hughes’ rich knowledge and intense interest in indigenous Christianity and colonial Mexican religion was invaluable to my theoretical approach and writing. The emotional and intellectual support that I received from my companion, partner, and colleague, Edward A. Polanco was and continues to be the most valuable to me as a scholar and person. With him by my side, I attended mass, hunted priests, translated documents, visited museums, and was able to fully develop my ideas about iv colonial Michoacán with a much more informed and well-rounded understanding. Edward’s emotional support and encouragement, especially during some of the more difficult times in my personal life were what kept my spirits high and my heart happy. His willingness to read, edit, and re-read my work has not gone unnoticed. My scholarship is stronger because of him. The support I received from my family and academic colleagues throughout the writing process of this thesis has been invaluable as well. I would like to thank Caroline Owen for her proofreading and numerous thoughtful and encouraging conversations on this thesis and Latin America. Jessica Aimee Garcia encouraged and supported me as only a twin sister could. Her unwavering love and support helped me through my writer’s block and other hurdles I encountered during the writing of this thesis. I owe my passion for the material and topic of my thesis to the two most important women in my life: my mom and Nana. Though I lost them both before completing this thesis, I know I have made them proud. They were the ones who planted the seed of knowledge and love of art that still grows within me today. v To the memory of my mother, Tamara Dawn Espejo My friend, my heart, the source of my life, and knowledge. You are missed every day, but your presence is not lost. Without your undying love and support, I would not be the woman and scholar I am today. I love you. vi Table of Contents Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................... iv List of Figures ................................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................1 Chapter 2: The Evolution of P'urhépecha Elite Male Imagery from the Early Colonial Period ...................................................................................................................7 P'urhépecha Elite ............................................................................................................10 P'urhépecha Imagery ..................................................................................................12 Elite Male Imagery in the Relación de Michoacán ........................................................14 The Petamuti (Head Priest) ........................................................................................14 The Cazonci (King) ....................................................................................................18 The Angátacuri (The Governor) .................................................................................19 The Equata Consquaro Festival .................................................................................23 Materiality of the Sacred ................................................................................................28 Gold and Precious Metals ...........................................................................................29 Gold and Its Correlations .......................................................................................33 Semi-Precious Metals .................................................................................................36 Turquoise ...............................................................................................................37 Use and Understanding of Corn .................................................................................40 Action of Creating as Sacred ......................................................................................42 Appropriation and New Translations in the Colonial Period .........................................44 Concluding Thoughts .....................................................................................................48 Chapter 3: Epilogue: A Case Study of El Señor de la Sacristía as Sacred Material ..50 Materiality ......................................................................................................................51 Imagery of El Señor de la Sacristía .......................................................................53 Corn as Religious Material ....................................................................................57 Ritualized Associations with Pasta de Caña .............................................57 Christ as the Corn Deity .............................................................................61 Accoutrements of El Señor de la Sacristía ....................................................................62 The Golden Sun Deity ...........................................................................................62 vii Religious Value—Holy Lordship ...................................................................................64 Concluding Thoughts .....................................................................................................66 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................69 Figures ...............................................................................................................................73 Bibliography ...................................................................................................................112 viii List of Figures Figure 1. Map of Mexico, with Michoacán highlighted in magenta, www.maps.com Figure 2. Map of Mesoamerica, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chunchucmil- Mesoamerica-Map.png. Figure 3. Images from the Relación de Michoacán that will be analyzed in this thesis, from Relación de las Cerimonias y Rictos y Población y Gobernación de los Indios de la Provincia de Mechuacán, Jerónimo de Alcalá and Moisés Franco Mendoza, 2000. Figure 4. El Señor de la Sacristía, Cathedral of Morelia, from postcard in souvenir shop, 2010. Figure 5. Lámina XXX, Éstos son los sacerdotes y oficiales de los cues [Those who are the priests and officials of the temples], from the Relación de Michoacán, from Relación de las Cerimonias y Rictos y Población y Gobernación de los Indios de la Provincia de Mechuacán, Jerónimo de Alcalá and Moisés Franco Mendoza, 2000. Figure 6. Detail of the petámuti, sacerdote mayor, from Figure 5, Lámina XXX, Éstos son los sacerdotes y oficiales de los cues [Those who are the priests and officials of the temples], from the Relación de Michoacán, from Relación de las Cerimonias y Rictos y Población y Gobernación de los Indios de la Provincia de Mechuacán, Jerónimo de Alcalá and Moisés Franco Mendoza, 2000. Figure 7. Explanation of Figure 5, Lámina XXX, Éstos son los sacerdotes y oficiales de los cues [Those who are the priests and officials of the temples], from the Relación de Michoacán, from the Relación de Michoacán, from Relación de las Cerimonias y Rictos y Población y Gobernación de los Indios de la Provincia de Mechuacán, Jerónimo de Alcalá and Moisés Franco Mendoza, 2000. English titles added by author. Figure 8. Quetzaltehueyac (left) and Icxicoatl (right) from the Mapa de Cuauhtinchan No. 2, Cave, City, and Eagle's Nest: An Interpretive Journey Through the Mapa de Cuauhtinchan No. 2 David Carrasco and Scott, 2007. Figure 9. Lámina XXXVIII from the Relación de Michoacán, depicting the Cazonci and his government, from Relación de las Cerimonias y Rictos