prev - home - index - next

Sculpture in the round all but disappeared in Mesoamerica with the passing of the Olmec. Vigorous Mexica artistry revived this type of sculpture almost 1,700 years later and was responsible for some of Mesoamerica's all-time masterpieces. This representation of a standing old man may have been used as a standard bearer, given the fact that the figure's hands were sculpted as if to hold some kind of staff.




Sculpture of a standing old man
Mexica (Aztec)
Late Post-Classic (1319-1521 A.D.)
Mexico City
Volcanic rock
N/A
National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico.

Photo © Jorge Pérez de Lara