The Tlaquiltenango codices

In an earlier post we reviewed the early Dominican murals painted at Tlaquiltenango. Another extraordinary survival there is a group of early colonial codices, painted in pre hispanic style, and found in the lower cloister, that are thought to date from the Franciscan occupation of the convento.
   Early in the 1900s, numerous fragments of several 16th century native codices inscribed on amate paper, were discovered pasted around the lower cloister some of them whitewashed and painted over as friezes. 

genealogy fragment

While some were sold and otherwise disposed of, study of the surviving pages determined that they were remnants of 15 early colonial documents. Originally painted in red, black and blue pigments, the codices dealt mostly with tribute lists and work assignments, although some contained genealogical and calendrical information.

tribute list

Aztec months

text © 2018 Richard D. Perry
graphic source: Laura Elena Hinojosa,
 Quince códices en la memoria de un convento Revista Ciencia 2017