Four Inca Kings: Tupac Yupanqui, Huayna Capac, Huascar Inca, Atahuallpa
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Object Label
This fragment of an Inca king portrait series was commissioned by the Guarachi family, one of the most prominent indigenous families of viceregal Peru. The domestic display of paintings of the Inca rulers was outlawed in the viceroyalty between 1781 and 1821, following a series of native revolts. After 1824, the portraits acquired a new significance in post-independence Peru as national icons.
Caption
Unknown Artist. Four Inca Kings: Tupac Yupanqui, Huayna Capac, Huascar Inca, Atahuallpa, early 19th century. Oil on canvas, 7 3/4 x 22 3/4 in. (19.7 x 57.8 cm) Inscription Panels: 8 1/4 x 4 1/4 in. (21 x 10.8 cm) frame: 27 7/8 x 35 7/8 x 1 3/8 in. (70.8 x 91.1 x 3.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mrs. Philip Ainsworth Means in memory of Philip Ainsworth Means , 47.119. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Artist
Title
Four Inca Kings: Tupac Yupanqui, Huayna Capac, Huascar Inca, Atahuallpa
Date
early 19th century
Geography
Place made: Cuzco, Peru
Medium
Oil on canvas
Classification
Dimensions
7 3/4 x 22 3/4 in. (19.7 x 57.8 cm) Inscription Panels: 8 1/4 x 4 1/4 in. (21 x 10.8 cm) frame: 27 7/8 x 35 7/8 x 1 3/8 in. (70.8 x 91.1 x 3.5 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Philip Ainsworth Means in memory of Philip Ainsworth Means
Accession Number
47.119
Frequent Art Questions
Can you tell me more about it?
As you may have read in the label, portraits of the Inca kings were important things to own and display for indigenous people of Peru. A version like this would have been easier to hide during the outlawing of displaying Inca portraits.The text, in Spanish, describes the Inca empire. The style of the paintings is European-inspired. They can be compared to religious paintings of Biblical figures. The artist who painted these likely also painted for churches in Peru.
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