San Antonio Museum of Art, purchased with funds provided by the Lillie and Roy Cullen Endowment
Not on view
Rebozos are long rectangular shawls that were adapted by Mexican women from Spanish dress. On this rebozo, embroidered scenes depict Xochimilco, a favorite Mexico City park where citizens drifted in flower-covered boats among the famous ancient “floating gardens.” More uncommon are the scenes of interiors featuring upholstered European-style cabriole-legged chairs and tea services. These scenes depict the range of colonial society—from individuals sporting chic French-inspired fashions to liveried servants. A Jesuit priest appears in a number of vignettes. His long blue silk scarf wafting in the breeze, he enjoys the company of a lady, who in one scene removes and displays her own rebozo.
Inscription: SOI DEL GEN[ERA] L D[O]N FER[NAN]DO RUVIN DE ZELIS PARIENTE Y NORIEGA ALCAL [D]E I MAYOR DE LA CIVDAD DE S[A]N LVIS POTOSSI SEYZO EN EL ARMADILLO ANNO DE 1771
(I belong to General Don Fernando Ruvin de Zelis Pariente and Noriega Mayor of the city of San Luis Potossi [sic] made [se yeso?] in Armadillo Year of 1771)