Lot Essay
The Castes furnish generic class portraits of New Granada (Ecuador and Colombia), a sampling of indigenous topography, and a prolix diversity of plant and animal species. As such, what might appear to be merely picturesque works are important anthropological documents. The paintings are part of an historical series that Vicente Albán (active 1750-1790) painted in Quito for Viceroy José Celestino Mutis.
A Madrileñian astronomer and botanist, Mutis traveled to the Americas in 1760 and prior to his death in 1808 King Charles III (1759-1788) appointed him Viceroy of New Granada. The enlighted sovereign had established a royal botanical garden in Madrid and he sustained a considerable interest in agricultural genetics. The court architect Juan de Villanueva even constructed a Neoclassical observatory to satisfy his scientific interest in lunar phases. The cultural mosaic of an exotic New World wetted the soverign's intellectual appetite. Under mandate from the Crown, Mutis commissioned artists like Albán to reocrd the fabric of viceregal society and the land that yielded such a plethora of unique vegetation.
The Museum of the Americas in Madrid has a complete set of six works by Albán. Only the first, a "Lady with her Black Slave" is signed, "Vicente Albán, painter of Quito, 1983." Letters in each composition designate the class represented (Mestizo and Indian), in addition to the types of trees, fruts and fauna. Correpsonding descriptions appear on the legends in the lower corners of the paintings. The Madrid Castes are marked at the bottom center with the number "2". The incloplete Quiteño set of Castes must constitute a preliminary edition because each canvas bears the number "1". Missing from the series are two paintings of a "Lady with her Balck Slave" (the probable signature painting) and an "Indina Woman in Formal Dress".
1)Indian from Quito in Formal Dress
(The Affluent status of the Meztizo is suggested by his rich apparel) The legend reads:
A)A. Principal Indian from Quito [Wearing] a"trage de gala"
B)Guava Tree (Arbol de Guabas) and Rattan Tree (Machetonas y Bejuquillas)
C)Jasgos Fruit and how to entangle its branches
D)Tree and Guayaba Fruit
E)Indian of the Country
2)Yapanga Woman from Quito
Despite jewelry and fancy costume, the lower social rank of the Mestizo is indicated by her lack of shoes) The legend reads:
A) A.Yapanga from Quito wearing the costume of this class of Women who seek to please
B) The tree called Capulí, which is very robust and leafy
C)Capulí fruit
D) Whole and open Cherimoyas. A very delicious fruit
E) The tree that produces the Cherimoyas.
F) Whole and open Caymitos.
G) The little trees that produce fruit similar to strawberries of Spain, but much fleshier and sweeter.
3)Yumbo Indian from the Quito Area)
(The Indian is presented with plumes, weapons and amulets that affirm his prowess as a hunter and elevated status among the natives)
A) A. Yunbo Indian from the area with his ceremonial feather costume and animal teeth obtained from the hunt.
B) Banana Tree of the Guinean variety and its fruit which has the most delectable taste.
C) Banana Tree of the Dominican variety and its fruit which is not as savory as the former one.
D) Papaya tree and fruit, whole and split. A healthy fruit
E) Pineapple with its Mata, whole and split. A fragarant and delectable fruit.
4)Yumbo Indian form Mayanas
(The Indian is portrayed as a common laborer in his community.) The legend reads:
A) A.Yumbo Indian from Maynas with his burden
B) Pitahaya tree and fruit
C) Bear (Obo) tree and fruit
D) Mamey tree and fruit, whole and split
E) Preacher Bird
F) Parrot (Loro)
G) Small Monkey Eating a Guinea Banana
H) Gourds and fruit being carried
A Madrileñian astronomer and botanist, Mutis traveled to the Americas in 1760 and prior to his death in 1808 King Charles III (1759-1788) appointed him Viceroy of New Granada. The enlighted sovereign had established a royal botanical garden in Madrid and he sustained a considerable interest in agricultural genetics. The court architect Juan de Villanueva even constructed a Neoclassical observatory to satisfy his scientific interest in lunar phases. The cultural mosaic of an exotic New World wetted the soverign's intellectual appetite. Under mandate from the Crown, Mutis commissioned artists like Albán to reocrd the fabric of viceregal society and the land that yielded such a plethora of unique vegetation.
The Museum of the Americas in Madrid has a complete set of six works by Albán. Only the first, a "Lady with her Black Slave" is signed, "Vicente Albán, painter of Quito, 1983." Letters in each composition designate the class represented (Mestizo and Indian), in addition to the types of trees, fruts and fauna. Correpsonding descriptions appear on the legends in the lower corners of the paintings. The Madrid Castes are marked at the bottom center with the number "2". The incloplete Quiteño set of Castes must constitute a preliminary edition because each canvas bears the number "1". Missing from the series are two paintings of a "Lady with her Balck Slave" (the probable signature painting) and an "Indina Woman in Formal Dress".
1)Indian from Quito in Formal Dress
(The Affluent status of the Meztizo is suggested by his rich apparel) The legend reads:
A)A. Principal Indian from Quito [Wearing] a"trage de gala"
B)Guava Tree (Arbol de Guabas) and Rattan Tree (Machetonas y Bejuquillas)
C)Jasgos Fruit and how to entangle its branches
D)Tree and Guayaba Fruit
E)Indian of the Country
2)Yapanga Woman from Quito
Despite jewelry and fancy costume, the lower social rank of the Mestizo is indicated by her lack of shoes) The legend reads:
A) A.Yapanga from Quito wearing the costume of this class of Women who seek to please
B) The tree called Capulí, which is very robust and leafy
C)Capulí fruit
D) Whole and open Cherimoyas. A very delicious fruit
E) The tree that produces the Cherimoyas.
F) Whole and open Caymitos.
G) The little trees that produce fruit similar to strawberries of Spain, but much fleshier and sweeter.
3)Yumbo Indian from the Quito Area)
(The Indian is presented with plumes, weapons and amulets that affirm his prowess as a hunter and elevated status among the natives)
A) A. Yunbo Indian from the area with his ceremonial feather costume and animal teeth obtained from the hunt.
B) Banana Tree of the Guinean variety and its fruit which has the most delectable taste.
C) Banana Tree of the Dominican variety and its fruit which is not as savory as the former one.
D) Papaya tree and fruit, whole and split. A healthy fruit
E) Pineapple with its Mata, whole and split. A fragarant and delectable fruit.
4)Yumbo Indian form Mayanas
(The Indian is portrayed as a common laborer in his community.) The legend reads:
A) A.Yumbo Indian from Maynas with his burden
B) Pitahaya tree and fruit
C) Bear (Obo) tree and fruit
D) Mamey tree and fruit, whole and split
E) Preacher Bird
F) Parrot (Loro)
G) Small Monkey Eating a Guinea Banana
H) Gourds and fruit being carried