Artwork
La Conquista de México, Tabla XV
La Conquista de México, Tabla XV is an unspecified painting by Miguel Gonzales. It dates from 1685 and is held in the collection of the National Museum of Fine Arts, Argentina.
About this work
Overview
La Conquista de México, Tabla XV is an oil painting executed around 1685 by the Spanish artist Miguel Gonzales. The work is part of the collection of the National Museum of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires, where it is displayed among other colonial-era pieces.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas portrays a moment of the Spanish conquest of Mexico, dividing the composition into two zones. The upper half shows a procession of armed soldiers advancing, while the lower half gathers a crowd around a table, suggesting a negotiation or distribution of spoils amid the turmoil.
Technique & Style
Gonzales employs a dynamic arrangement of figures, using contrasting light to highlight the movement of the troops and the bustling activity of the onlookers. Architectural elements, such as a building with a tiled roof in the background, provide depth and frame the scene, reinforcing the sense of a lived, chaotic environment.
History & Provenance
Created in the late seventeenth century, the painting entered the Argentine national collection during the early twentieth century, reflecting a growing interest in colonial narratives. Its presence in Buenos Aires links the work to broader Latin American museum acquisitions of European depictions of the New World.
Context
The work belongs to a series of tableaux that illustrate the conquest of Mexico, a theme popular among Spanish painters seeking to document and legitimize the imperial enterprise. Gonzales’ depiction aligns with contemporary visual strategies that emphasize order and authority amid conflict.
Artist & collection
Museum
National Museum of Fine Arts, Argentina
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