Who painted Mural Fragment with Elite Male and Maguey Cactus Leaves?

Mural Fragment with Elite Male and Maguey Cactus Leaves was painted by Unknown in 525.

Where can I see Mural Fragment with Elite Male and Maguey Cactus Leaves?

Mural Fragment with Elite Male and Maguey Cactus Leaves is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Mural Fragment with Elite Male and Maguey Cactus Leaves?

Mural Fragment with Elite Male and Maguey Cactus Leaves is associated with Mexican Casta Painting.

Artwork

Mural Fragment with Elite Male and Maguey Cactus Leaves

Unknown , 525

Mural Fragment with Elite Male and Maguey Cactus Leaves is an unspecified painting by the Mexican Casta Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 525 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This mural fragment depicts an elite male figure from a series lining the walls of a wealthy apartment compound in Teotihuacán.

Accession no.: 1963.252
Credit line: Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund

About this work

Overview

This mural fragment depicts an elite male figure from a series lining the walls of a wealthy apartment compound in Teotihuacán. He is shown engaging in a ritual act, surrounded by symbolic elements.

Subject & Meaning

The figure offers a prayer or chant (visualized as a mouth scroll) and a libation of flowers from one hand, while holding an incense bag in the other. The accompanying maguey cactus leaves may allude to blood sacrifice and the production of pulque, a ritual beverage.

Technique & Style

The fragment showcases the vibrant, detailed style characteristic of Teotihuacán murals, with textured rendering of the cactus spines and meticulous depiction of the figure’s attire and accessories.

History & Provenance

Originating from a patio wall in one of Teotihuacán’s elite residential compounds, this fragment is part of a larger mural cycle that once featured a procession of identical figures.

Context

Created in the context of Teotihuacán’s wealthy elite, the mural reflects the religious, social, and possibly economic practices of the time, with the figure’s actions and symbols tying into broader Mesoamerican ritual traditions.

Legacy

As part of the preserved Teotihuacán mural tradition, this fragment contributes to our understanding of the city’s artistic and religious practices, now represented in collections like that of the Cleveland Museum of Art.