Constantino Reyes-Valerio
Encyclopedia
Constantino Reyes-Valerio (10 January 1922 - 13 December 2006) was a prominent Mexican
scholar
of pre-Columbian
Mesoamerica
n cultures, particularly the Aztec
and the Maya
as well as the Colonial Art.
Reyes-Valerio identified the artistic contribution of Native Mexican Indians in the Colonial painting and sculpture; he coined the term
Indochristian art. Another major contribution was his seminal work on the chemical composition and process of the Maya Blue
Pigment
where he re-discovered the technique used by the Maya to create the famous turquoise blue pigment. He was granted a Guggenheim Fellowship
in 1972 for Fine Arts Research. He corresponded extensively with major scholars in Mexico and abroad such as George Kubler
, Santiago Sebastian and Enrique Marco Dorta among others. In 2000 he was named Emeritus Researcher by the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia.
In April 2009, a special edition of the INAH bulletin (Boletin de Monumentos Historicos Num 12 enero-abril 2008) was published as an in memoriam edition dedicated to Constantino Reyes-Valerio. Several important researchers, Miguel Leon-Portilla, Alfredo López Austin
, Eduardo Matos Moctezuma
, Giacomo Chiari, Carlos Navarrete Cáceres
, Beatriz Barba Ahuatzin, Dora Sierra, Guillermo Tovar y de Teresa, Manuel Sanchez del Rio, Rosa Camelo among others contributed with articles to this bulletin.
Reyes-Valerio studied primary and secondary school in his native town of Zinacatepec, where he also learned to speak Nahuatl
. In 2008 a bilingual school (Spanish-Nahuatl
) in Zinacatepec was named after him.
He studied high school in the city of Puebla, where he also studied one year of Medicine before moving to Mexico City and transferring to Chemistry at the I.P.N
where he
obtained the degree of "Quimico Bacteriologo y Parasitologo" (MSc in Chemistry, Bacteriology and Parasitology). He did postgraduate studies at the University of Illinois. After
several years working as a chemist, he started to attend lectures in art history by Francisco de la Maza among others and decided
to study history. In 1981 he obtained an M.Sc. in Mexican History at UNAM
. Later on he started a Ph.D. in Mexican History at the same institution. He was a doctoral candidate at the time he died.
He also studied Photography in Mexico and New York and contributed the photographs of his own books as well as classic books such as Mexican Art by Justino Fernandez.
and Azul Maya
with the De Bonampak al Templo Mayor. El Azul maya en Mesoamérica and several journal publications.
He was a very active photographer and took the photographs for several books and to the general archive of the INAH. In 2009, his contribution was recognised by naming the Photographic Archive of the "Coordinacion Nacional de Monumentos Culturales" of INAH with his name.
He received several awards, including the Guggenheim Fellowship
, the Rafael Ramirez Prize granted by the S.E.P.
, Premio Francisco Javier Clavijero granted by INAH and the Emeritus Researcher degree by INAH as well.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
scholar
of pre-Columbian
Pre-Columbian
The pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences on the American continents, spanning the time of the original settlement in the Upper Paleolithic period to European colonization during...
Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica is a region and culture area in the Americas, extending approximately from central Mexico to Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, within which a number of pre-Columbian societies flourished before the Spanish colonization of the Americas in the 15th and...
n cultures, particularly the Aztec
Aztec
The Aztec people were certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who dominated large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, a period referred to as the late post-classic period in Mesoamerican chronology.Aztec is the...
and the Maya
Maya civilization
The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, as well as for its art, architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems. Initially established during the Pre-Classic period The Maya is a Mesoamerican...
as well as the Colonial Art.
Reyes-Valerio identified the artistic contribution of Native Mexican Indians in the Colonial painting and sculpture; he coined the term
Indochristian art. Another major contribution was his seminal work on the chemical composition and process of the Maya Blue
Maya Blue
Maya Blue is a unique bright azure blue pigment manufactured by cultures of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, such as the Maya and Aztec.-Manufacture:...
Pigment
where he re-discovered the technique used by the Maya to create the famous turquoise blue pigment. He was granted a Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowships are American grants that have been awarded annually since 1925 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts." Each year, the foundation makes...
in 1972 for Fine Arts Research. He corresponded extensively with major scholars in Mexico and abroad such as George Kubler
George Kubler
George Alexander Kubler was an American art historian and among the foremost scholars on the art of Pre-Columbian America and Ibero-American Art....
, Santiago Sebastian and Enrique Marco Dorta among others. In 2000 he was named Emeritus Researcher by the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia.
In April 2009, a special edition of the INAH bulletin (Boletin de Monumentos Historicos Num 12 enero-abril 2008) was published as an in memoriam edition dedicated to Constantino Reyes-Valerio. Several important researchers, Miguel Leon-Portilla, Alfredo López Austin
Alfredo López Austin
Alfredo Federico López Austin is a Mexican historian of uncommon originality who wrote extensively on the Aztec worldview and on Mesoamerican religion. As an academic teacher, he has inspired generations of students, but his influence extends beyond the boundaries of academic life...
, Eduardo Matos Moctezuma
Eduardo Matos Moctezuma
Eduardo Matos Moctezuma is a prominent Mexican archaeologist. Since 1978 he has directed excavations at the Templo Mayor, the remains of a major Aztec pyramid in central Mexico City....
, Giacomo Chiari, Carlos Navarrete Cáceres
Carlos Navarrete Cáceres
Carlos Alberto Navarrete Cáceres is an anthropologist and writer. He studied history and literature at the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala and received his doctorate in anthropology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico...
, Beatriz Barba Ahuatzin, Dora Sierra, Guillermo Tovar y de Teresa, Manuel Sanchez del Rio, Rosa Camelo among others contributed with articles to this bulletin.
Education
Nahuatl
Nahuatl is thought to mean "a good, clear sound" This language name has several spellings, among them náhuatl , Naoatl, Nauatl, Nahuatl, Nawatl. In a back formation from the name of the language, the ethnic group of Nahuatl speakers are called Nahua...
. In 2008 a bilingual school (Spanish-Nahuatl
Nahuatl
Nahuatl is thought to mean "a good, clear sound" This language name has several spellings, among them náhuatl , Naoatl, Nauatl, Nahuatl, Nawatl. In a back formation from the name of the language, the ethnic group of Nahuatl speakers are called Nahua...
) in Zinacatepec was named after him.
He studied high school in the city of Puebla, where he also studied one year of Medicine before moving to Mexico City and transferring to Chemistry at the I.P.N
National Polytechnic Institute
The National Polytechnic Institute colloquially known as the Polytechnic is one of the largest public universities in Mexico with 153.027 students at the high school, undergraduate and postgraduate levels...
where he
obtained the degree of "Quimico Bacteriologo y Parasitologo" (MSc in Chemistry, Bacteriology and Parasitology). He did postgraduate studies at the University of Illinois. After
several years working as a chemist, he started to attend lectures in art history by Francisco de la Maza among others and decided
to study history. In 1981 he obtained an M.Sc. in Mexican History at UNAM
National Autonomous University of Mexico
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is a university in Mexico. UNAM was founded on 22 September 1910 by Justo Sierra as a liberal alternative to the Roman Catholic-sponsored Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (National Autonomous...
. Later on he started a Ph.D. in Mexican History at the same institution. He was a doctoral candidate at the time he died.
He also studied Photography in Mexico and New York and contributed the photographs of his own books as well as classic books such as Mexican Art by Justino Fernandez.
Major works
Reyes-Valerio's main contributions were in the areas of Arte Indocristiano where he wrote 6 books and numerous journal articlesand Azul Maya
Maya Blue
Maya Blue is a unique bright azure blue pigment manufactured by cultures of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, such as the Maya and Aztec.-Manufacture:...
with the De Bonampak al Templo Mayor. El Azul maya en Mesoamérica and several journal publications.
He was a very active photographer and took the photographs for several books and to the general archive of the INAH. In 2009, his contribution was recognised by naming the Photographic Archive of the "Coordinacion Nacional de Monumentos Culturales" of INAH with his name.
He received several awards, including the Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowships are American grants that have been awarded annually since 1925 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts." Each year, the foundation makes...
, the Rafael Ramirez Prize granted by the S.E.P.
Secretaría de Educación Pública
The Secretaría de Educación Pública is a Mexican federal government authority with Cabinet representation and responsibility for overseeing the development and implementation of national educational policy and school standards in Mexico.Additionally, it has the following responsibilities:*Creation...
, Premio Francisco Javier Clavijero granted by INAH and the Emeritus Researcher degree by INAH as well.
Books
- 1960 Tepalcingo.
- 1960 Trilogía Barroca.
- 1964 Colegios de Tepotzotlán.
- 1964 Juan Gersón. Tlacuilo de TecamachalcoTecamachalcoTecamachalco is a municipality in the state of Puebla, Mexico....
. - 1967 Tepotzotlán.
- 1977 El Libro De Villard De Honnecourt. Manuscrito Del Siglo XIII.
- 1978 Arte Indocristiano. Escultura del siglo XVI en México.
- 1989 El pintor de conventos. Los murales del siglo XVI en la Nueva España, México, INAH
- 1993 De Bonampak al Templo Mayor. El Azul maya en Mesoamérica.
- 2000 Arte Indocristiano. Escultura y pintura del siglo XVI en México.
Photographic works
- 1965 Mexican Art. Justino Fernandez
- 1967 Museo Nacional de Antropología. Eugenio Fishgrund
- 1967 Museo Nacional de Historia. Eugenio Fishgrund
- 1969 100 Obras Maestras del Museo Nacional de Antropología, México. Jose Bolea
- 1974 Pintura del siglo XVII, por Diego Angulo Íñiguez,
- 1974 El arte en América y Filipinas por Enrique Marco Dorta.
- 1985 Arte Iberoamericano desde la colonización a la Independencia, por Santiago Sebastián, José de Mesa y Teresa Gisbert de Meza.
Journal papers and international conferences
- 1980 “La pintura mural del siglo XVI en México”. (en libro en homenaje a Erwin Walter Palm, Heidelberg, Alemania) Jahrbuch für geschichte von staat, wirtschaft II, pp. 629–635.
- 1987 El estilo yucateco en la arquitectura, The Dictionary of Art, MacMillan Publishers, Londres.
- 1987 El estilo poblano en la arquitectura, The Dictionary of Art, McMillan Publishers, Londres.
- 1999 Giacomo Chiari, David Ajó, C. Reyes-Valerio y F. Zuane, “Application of photoluminescence spectroscopy to the investigation of materials used in works of Art” en Proceedings. 6th International Conference On Non Destructive Testing and Microanalysis for the Diagnostics and Conservation of the Cultural Environmental Heritage, vol. I, págs. 1717 a 1726, Italia.
- 2000 Giacomo Chiari, R.Giustetto, C.Reyes-Valerio and G.Richiardi, Maya Blue Pigment: A Palygorskite-Indigo complex, XXX Congresso Associazione Italiana di Cristallografia, Martina Franca (Ottobre 2000)
- 2001 David Ajó, G. Chiari & C. Reyes-Valerio. “Characterization of Maya Blue by Photoluminescence Spectroscopy”. Poster presentado en el 32nd International Symposium of ARCHAEOMETRY, May-15-19, 2000 Ciudad de México, México y que será publicado próximamente.
- 2001 G. Chiari, R. Giustetto, J. Drusik, M Schilling, C. Reyes-Valerio: “Maya Blue structure: Some New Insides, DHA20 Amsterdam 2001 Netherlands Institute for Cultural Heritage, Amsterdam, 1–2 November 2001.
- 2001 Chiari G, Giustetto R, Reyes-Valerio C & Ricchiardi G Powder Refinement of Maya Blue: A Palygorskite-Indigo Complex: (OS05:TUam03:G6). April 8 - 12th, 2001, European Union of Geosciences EUGXI Programme
- 2002 G. Chiari, R. Giustetto, E. Cechi, A. Masic, C. Reyes-Valerio y G. Bonani: “Dating Mesoamerican Paintings by 145C AMS. Measurements of the Indigo contained in the Maya Blue Pigment: Work in Progress”, Archeometria 3000, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Marzo 2001, Roma, Italia.
- 2002 C. Chiari, R. Giustetto, C. Reyes-Valerio and G. Ricchiardi “Crystal Structure Refinement of Maya Blue from Powder Synchrotron Diffraction”, Symposium OS05 Recent Advances in the Physics and Chemistry, European Journal of Mineralogy, Italia.
- 2003 M. Sánchez del Río, C. Reyes- Valerio, A. Somogyi, P. Martinetto, E. Dooryhée, M. Suárez Barrios, L. Alianelli, R. Felici, Maya Blue: a Millenary Organo- Clay Pigment Revisited, EUROCLAY 2003, June 22–26, 2003, Modena, ITALY
- 2003 Reyes-Valerio, Constantino, Maya Blue, Nature of the Pigment and the Men who produced it, University College London, University of London, October 9, 2003.
- 2003 Reyes-Valerio, Constantino, Arte Indocristiano, a Legacy of two Cultures, Birbeck College, University of London, October 8, 2003.
- 2004 M. Sanchez del Rio, P. Martinetto, C. Reyes-Valerio, E. Dooryhée, N. Peltier, M. Suárez, and L. Alianelli "Synthesis and acid-resistance of Maya blue pigment", Applied Clay Science
- 2004 M. Sanchez del Rio, P. Martinetto, A. Somogyi, C. Reyes-Valerio, E. Dooryhée, N. Peltier, L. Alianelli, B. Moignard, L. Pichon, T. Calligaro, J.-C. Dran, "Microanalysis study of archaeological mural samples containing Maya blue pigment”, Spectrochimica Acta B 59 (2004) 1619-1625
- 2004 M. Sanchez del Rio, P. Martinetto, C. Reyes-Valerio, E. Dooryhée, and M. Suárez "Synthesis and acid-resistance of the Maya blue pigment", Archaeometry.
- 2005 M. Sanchez del Rio, A. Sodo, S. G. Eeckhout, T. Neisius, P. Martinetto, E. Dooryhée and C. Reyes-Valerio "Fe K-edge XANES of Maya blue pigment", Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B, Volume 238, Issues 1-4, August 2005, Pages 50–54
- 2005 M. Sánchez del Río, M. Suárez, E. García Romero, L. Alianelli, R. Felici, P. Martinetto, E. Dooryhée, C. Reyes-Valerio, F. Borgatti, B. Doyle, A. Giglia, N. Mahne, M. Pedio and S. Nannarone "Mg K-edge XANES of sepiolite and palygorskite" Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B, Volume 238, Issues 1-4, August 2005, Pages 55–60
- 2006 Manuel Sánchez del Río, Constantino Reyes-Valerio, Michel Picquart, Emmanuel Haro-Poniatowski, Enrique Lima, Víctor Hugo Lara, Patricia Castillo, Humberto Vázquez, Víctor Hugo Uc, Sandra Páez, Sonia Menéndez Castro, Karen Mahé Lugo Romera, Pedro Bosch, Corina Solis “Nuevas Investigaciones Sobre El Azul Maya” La Ciencia De Materiales Y Su Impacto En La Arqueologia VOLUMEN III, Octubre 2006, Pp 11–20. ISBN 970-773-269-5
- 2006 M. Sánchez Del Río, P. Martinetto, C. Reyes-Valerio, E. Dooryhée, M. Suárez, “Synthesis And Acid Resistance Of Maya Blue Pigment”, Archaeometry Vol 48, February 2006, Pages 115
- 2006 M. Sánchez del Río, P. Martinetto, C. Solís, and C. Reyes-Valerio, “PIXE analysis on Maya blue in Prehispanic and colonial mural paintings”, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B, August 2006, Pages 628-632
Journal Papers in Spanish
- 1962 El Nicho de Hueyapan, BOLETÍN INAH, núm.9, pp. 9–10.
- 1962 El templo de la Merced de Quecholac, BOLETÍN INAH, núm. 11, pp. 14–15.
- 1963 Las pinturas de Juan Gersón en Tecamachalco, BOLETÍN INAH, núm. 12, pp. 9–10.
- 1967 Las pinturas en papel de amate de Ixmiquilpan, BOLETÍN INAH, núm. 27, pp. 25–28.
- 1967 Testamento de Lorenzo Rodríguez, BOLETÍN INAH, núm. 28, pp. 36–38.
- 1967 Una pintura indígena en Cuauhtinchan, BOLETÍN INAH, núm. 29, pp. 1–6.
- 1967 El escultor indígena de Tetepango, BOLETÍN INAH, núm. 30, pp. 9–12.
- 1968 La pila bautismal de Zinacantepec BOLETÍN INAH, núm. 31, pp. 24–27.
- 1968 El retablo de Santiago Tlatelolco, BOLETÍN INAH, núm. 32 pp. 38–40.
- 1969 La capilla abiertaCapilla abiertaA capilla abierta or “open chapel” is considered to be one of the most distinct Mexican construction forms. Mostly built in the 16th century during the early colonial period, the construction was basically an apse or open presbytery, containing an altar, which opened onto a large atrium or plaza...
de Huaquechula, BOLETÍN INAH, núm. 35, pp. 19–21. - 1969 La obra indígena de Tepeapulco, BOLETÍN INAH, núm. 37, pp. 13–18.
- 1969 Los constructores de Santo Domingo, BOLETÍN INAH, núm. 38, pp. 42–44.
- 1969 La fuente de Tochimilco, BOLETÍN INAH, núm. 39, pp. 4–6.
- 1970 El Retablo de San Bartolomé Solotepec I, BOLETÍN INAH, núm. 40, pp. 55–58.
- 1970 El Retablo de San Bartolomé Solotepec II, BOLETÍN INAH, núm. 41, pp. 45–47.
- 1970 Los indios pintores de Tlatelolco, BOLETÍN INAH, núm. 41, pp. 50–54.
- 1970 Los tlacuilos y tlacuicuic de Itzmiquilpan, BOLETÍN INAH, núm. 42, pp. 9–13.
- 1970 Tres retablos de Isidoro Vicente de Balbás, BOLETÍN INAH, núm. 42, pp. 117–120
- 1975 Iconografía de un grabado de Valadés, CUADERNOS DE CULHUACÁN, núm.1, pp. 13–18.
- 1976 La capilla abierta de Actopan y sus murales, CUADERNOS DE CULHUACÁN, núm. 2, pp. 33–36.
- 1977 Cosmovisión del artista indio del siglo XVI, BOLETÍN CHURUBUSCO núm.1, pp. 23–36.
- 1979 Una pintura mural desconocida en Tecamachalco, BOLETÍN CHURUBUSCO, núm. 3, pp. 93–109.
- 1979 Comentario à la ponencia: “Consideraciones en torno al llamado estilo tequitqui” del Dr. Enrique Marco Dorta (Madrid), en (Libro) La dicotomía entre arte culto y arte popular, UNAM, pp. 157–161.
- 1979 Comentario à la ponencia “El estilo a la fachada de la catedral de Zacatecas”, Libro La dicotomía entre arte culto y arte popular, UNAM, pp. 183–184.
- 1982 El arte tequitqui o Indocristiano. Historia del Arte Mexicano Salvat, núm. 3, pp. 98–117.
- 1985 Una técnica para montar cortes estratigráficos de pintura, RESTAURACIÓN núm.1, pp. 4–5.
- 1989 Las pictografías nahuas en el arte indocristiano. (Primer Coloquio de Documentos Pictográficos de Tradición náhuatl), en libro Primer Coloquio de Documentos Pictográficos, UNAM, pp. 72–77.
- 1986 El origen de una pintura mural de Metztitlán, ANTROPOLOGÍA, 9 pp. 17–18.
- 1987 Participación indígena en el arte novohispano de Cuauhtinchan, S. Juan Bautista Cuauhtinchan.
- 1996 Las pictografías nahuas de San Mateo Xóloc BOLETÍN MONUMENTOS HISTÓRICOS 12 pp. 28–33.
- 2000 “El enigma de Tula y los tulanes o toltecas” ARQUEOLOGÍA, HISTORIA Y ANTROPOLOGIA. IN MEMORIAM JOSÉ LORENZO BAUTISTA, México, INAH, 2000, pp. 331–348.
- 2001 “Acercamiento a fray Bernardino de Sahagún.” Ponencia aprobada para el libro homenaje al maestro Carlos Martínez Marín (UNAM: en proceso de publicación).