Unknown artist, Garden Party on the Terrace of a Country Home, about 1720–30. Oil paint on canvas with gold. Gift of the Collection Frederick and Jan Mayer, 2009.759.

height: 87 1/16 in, 221.1388 cm; width: 22 in, 55.8800 cm

Numbers written on verso of panels in white chalk

Mayer Center, Latin American Art

Latin American Art

This object is currently on view

After the Spanish occupation of the Philippines in 1561, Spain opened its own official trade route to Asia. In Manila, exotic Asian goods were loaded onto Spanish galleon ships and transported across the Pacific to Acapulco where they were offloaded on to mules for the overland trip to Mexico City where they might be sold. Remaining goods continued on to Veracruz  where they traveled to Spain via the Atlantic galleon ships.
  Inspired by Asian examples, colonial Mexicans used folding screens (known as biombos) to divide spaces, block drafts, and create privacy in their homes. This screen provides a glimpse into daily life. Clusters of people are shown enjoying a garden party on the terrace of a country home. They play cards, gamble, smoke, flirt, drink, and make music. There are only about a dozen screens in existence with scenes like this; all were made in Mexico City in the 1700s and most are in private collections. 
--Donna Pierce, 2015

Gifted 23 December 2009 by Frederick & Jan Mayer to the Denver Art Museum. Provenance research is on-going at the Denver Art Museum. Please e-mail provenance@denverartmuseum.org, if you have questions, or if you have additional information to share with us.

• “Painting a New World: Mexican Art and Life, 1521-1821” — Denver Art Museum, 04/03/2004 – 07/25/2004
• Meadows Museum, Dallas, 09/1/2004 – 10/31/2004