Title
Drawing for Southwest Pieta
Creator
Description
Luis Jiménez, Drawing for Southwest Pieta, 1983, oil stick and oil paint on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Frank K. Ribelin, 1988.82A-B, © 1983, Luis Jiménez
Date
Type
Drawing
Contributor
Annotation
In this drawing, the artist invokes the Aztec legend of Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl, the star-crossed lovers, one of whom died of grief while the other mourned her. Jimenez was fascinated by this tale so much so that he made more than five variations of this legend in lithographs and color drawings on paper, which led to the final fiberglass sculpture commission for the City of Albuquerque. This myth is deeply rooted within Mexican and Mexican American culture, and the image or reference to these Aztec lovers appears in Mexican restaurants, on lowriders cars, album covers, murals, and as tattoos.
The title given to this work is significant; the word “piéta” means showing compassion or pity. The most famous interpretation of “piéta” was by Michelangelo; his marble sculpture of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the dead mortal body of Jesus Christ is found in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Jimenez’ reinterprets this renaissance piece and creates his “Southwest Pieta,” a visual quotation that reclaims a pivotal Mexican myth that holds meaning among Mexican Americans in the borderlands. (Author: Briseida Gutierrez)
The title given to this work is significant; the word “piéta” means showing compassion or pity. The most famous interpretation of “piéta” was by Michelangelo; his marble sculpture of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the dead mortal body of Jesus Christ is found in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Jimenez’ reinterprets this renaissance piece and creates his “Southwest Pieta,” a visual quotation that reclaims a pivotal Mexican myth that holds meaning among Mexican Americans in the borderlands. (Author: Briseida Gutierrez)
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