Marcos Cipac de Aquino facts for kids

Marcos Cipac de Aquino was an important artist from Mexico in the 1500s. He was a Nahuatl artist, meaning he belonged to the Nahua people, who were native to Mexico. He is sometimes called "Marcos the Indian." Many people believe he might have painted the famous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is a very important religious painting in Mexico.

Who Was Marcos Cipac de Aquino?

Marcos Cipac de Aquino lived in a time when Mexico was called New Spain. This was after the Spanish arrived. He was a talented painter and sculptor. Some historians think he was the artist behind the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe. This painting is very important to many people.

Was He the Painter of Guadalupe?

A historian named Jeanette Favrot Peterson believes Marcos Cipac de Aquino painted the Guadalupe image. She thinks he was a skilled artist. She found clues in an old book called the Anales de Juan Bautista. This book was translated and shared in 2001.

Other experts from the 1800s also thought Marcos was the painter. These included Joaquín García Icazbalceta and Francisco del Paso y Troncoso. They wrote about him in their studies.

There is some debate about this idea. A sermon from 1556 mentioned an artist named Marcos. This sermon was found much later, in 1888. Also, a scientist named Leoncio Garza-Valdés believes Marcos de Aquino painted it. He based his ideas on scientific research.

What Did Others Say About Him?

Bernal Díaz del Castillo was a writer who lived at the same time as Marcos. In his book, Historia verdadera de la conquista de la Nueva España, he wrote about Marcos. He said that Marcos was one of three amazing Indian artists in Mexico. He even compared Marcos to famous European artists. These included Apelles, Michelangelo, and Berruguete. This shows how highly Marcos Cipac de Aquino was thought of as an artist.

See also

In Spanish: Marcos Cipac de Aquino para niños