Artwork Page for Feathered Serpent (Quetzalcoatl)

Details / Information for Feathered Serpent (Quetzalcoatl)

Feathered Serpent (Quetzalcoatl)

1325–1521
Medium
stone
Measurements
Overall: 27.7 x 20.1 x 22 cm (10 7/8 x 7 15/16 x 8 11/16 in.)
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view

Description

The museum bought this sculpture in 1941, when study of ancient American arts was in its infancy. It has many odd features, a few perhaps revealing an attempt to make the subject—the Aztec deity Quetzalcoatl (Feathered Serpent)—palatable to modern viewers. But it cannot absolutely be declared fake because some real Aztec sculptures are unusual. Analysis of the surface so far provides no help. Especially odd is the arrangement of the coils into bulges that suggest the pectorals, knees, and buttocks of a human body, as though the sculpture represents a human in a serpent costume. Real Aztec sculpture usually portrays the serpent's dangerous body more realistically. Also, the mouth mask—the insignia of a wind deity related to Quetzalcoatl and, thus, perhaps appropriate—is much larger in genuine sculptures. This suggests that, because the mask and its authentic proportion are strange to our eyes, a forger scaled it down. Other uncommon features include the incomplete carving of the ears, the fact that the human head does not emerge from a serpent's mouth, and more.
A coarse black-brown stone sculpture depicts the feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl, as if a human in costume, the body enwrapped in the knotted body of the snake and the head, looking up, protruding from the top. The mouth is covered by a mask, while the nose, eyes, and ears present the simplified features of a human face. Chinks carved into the serpent tail suggest feathers.

Feathered Serpent (Quetzalcoatl)

1325–1521

Central Mexico, Aztec or modern, Post-Classic Period or modern

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork