Artwork
Palace of the Circus at Chicen-Itza (bas relief of tigers)
Palace of the Circus at Chicen-Itza (bas relief of tigers) is a photography by the Impressionist artist Claude-Joseph-Désiré Charnay. It dates from 1860 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Claude‑Joseph‑Désiré Charnay’s photograph, dated around 1860, depicts the ruins of a stone pyramid at the site known as the Palace of the Circus in Chicén‑Itzá. The image is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection and is presented in black‑and‑white, emphasizing the texture of the weathered masonry.
Subject & Meaning
The photograph captures a deteriorating temple structure, its steps uneven and its stone blocks bearing faint carvings. Vines and small plants cling to the surface, illustrating the gradual reclamation of the built environment by nature. Although the title references tiger bas‑reliefs, no such figures are discernible in the frame.
Technique & Style
Taken with mid‑nineteenth‑century photographic processes, the image relies on tonal contrast to render the stone’s surface and surrounding vegetation. The monochrome palette highlights the interplay of light and shadow across the pyramid’s irregular planes, a common approach in early archaeological photography.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1860, the photograph entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition (specific details of purchase or donation are not recorded in the available data). It remains an example of early visual documentation of Mesoamerican ruins.
Context
Charnay’s work belongs to a period when European scholars and explorers were systematically recording the architecture of the Maya region. Photographs like this served both scientific and public interests, providing rare visual access to remote sites before the era of mass tourism.
Artist & collection
Artist
Claude-Joseph Désiré Charnay was a French traveller and archaeologist notable both for his explorations of Mexico and Central America, and for the pioneering use of photography to document his discoveries.
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