Emmanuel Ortega

The Reception of Autos-de-fé in 18th Century New Spain: Image,text and Practice Emmanuel Ortega

In 18th century New Spain, autos-de-fé were publicly performed as a way to openly confront the sins of heretics and to announce their penance. Paintings of these events are among the rarest scenes ever depicted on both sides of the Atlantic. Paintings, such as Un Auto-de-fè en el Pueblo de San Bartolomé Otzolotepec ca.1716, emphasize the impressive display of power enacted by the Provisory of Natives through inquisition-like public events. However, they downplay the presence of the indigenous spectator-participant in lieu of the organizers and elite invitees. In terms of content, however, this painting represents a unique example of auto images since its subject matter centers around the judging of Natives. Furthermore, in this thesis, I examine autos-de-fé in New Spain by analyzing its performance through pictorial and written accounts as well as by studying the space in which autos took place. Besides providing a new interpretation of the event, this project aims to produce a deeper understanding of auto-de-fé images in general.