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National Anthropological Archives
Guide to the Frederick Catherwood drawing of the great Teocallis at Uxmal, 1841
Summary
- Collection ID:
- NAA.MS211351
- Creators:
-
Catherwood, Frederick, 1799-1854
- Dates:
-
1841
- Languages:
-
No linguistic content; Not applicable.
- Physical Description:
-
1 Drawings (visual works)watercolor42 x 28 inches
- Repository:
- Container:
- 211351
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
A gouache drawing depicting the Teocallis, also called House of the Diviner or Dwarf's House, sitting on a pyramidal mound. It is a grand stone structure with intricate stone carvings at the gateway. Several people and a dog gather outside the entrance.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or National Anthropological Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Biographical Note
Biographical Note
Frederick Catherwood (1799–1854) was an English artist and architect known for his meticulously detailed drawings of the ruins of the Maya civilization. In 1839 and 1841, Catherwood and John Lloyd Stephens toured dozens of archaeological sites in Central America and Mexico. Together they published two books describing their discoveries: Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan (published in 1841, after the first voyage) and Incidents of Travel in Yucatan (published in 1843, after the second voyage).
Administration
Custodial History
The drawing was given to James Rivers King, father of the geologist Clarence King, possibly as a memento in exchange for his financial support of the Stephens and Catherwood expedition. Clarence King gave the drawing to W. H. Phillips of Washington around 1890. After Mr. Phillips' death, it became the property of his daughter Imogene Phillips. It was purchased by Bureau of American Ethnology from Imogene Phillips in 1901. The drawing was transferred from the object collections of the Department of Anthropology to the National Anthropological Archives in 1988.
Digital Content
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Use
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Access to the collection requires an appointment.
Preferred Citation
Frederick Catherwood drawing of the great Teocallis at Uxmal (MS 211351), National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
More Information
Local Numbers
Local Numbers
NAA MS 211,351
USNM Accession Number 38171
Variant Title
Variant Title
Drawing of a ruined temple in Yucatan
House of the Magician
House of the Dwarf
Publication Note
Publication Note
A lithograph of a portion of this drawing was published in:
Catherwood, F. (1844). Views of ancient monuments in Central America, Chiapas and Yucatan. London: Published by F. Catherwood.
Keywords
| Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Maya | Cultural Context | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Works of art | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Watercolors | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| North America | Geographic | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Mexico | Geographic | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Uxmal Site (Mexico) | Geographic | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
National Anthropological Archives
Museum Support Center
4210 Silver Hill Road
Suitland, Maryland 20746
Business Number: Phone: 301.238.1300
Fax Number: Fax: 301.238.2883
naa@si.edu
