[Fierro, Pancho, attributed to], An album containing 35 original costume and figure studies from Lima, Peru, including riders on horseback, women's dresses of Lima, tapadas, locals dancing, ecclesiastical dress, vagabonds and traders, S.a. [ca.1840]. S.l. [Lima, Peru].

[Fierro, Pancho, attributed to]

An album containing 35 original costume and figure studies from Lima, Peru, including riders on horseback, women's dresses of Lima, tapadas, locals dancing, ecclesiastical dress, vagabonds and traders, S.a. [ca.1840]. S.l. [Lima, Peru].

Rare, large, and splendid iconographic record of early 19th century Peruvian costumes by Pancho Fierro

Fascinating album of drawings by Pancho Fierro, the celebrated Peruvian artist from the first half of the 19th century, whose drawings are deeply embedded in the cultural visual memory of Peruvian iconography; whilst drawings by him turn up on the market from time to time, albums of this magnitude and quality are scarcely seen. Furthermore, this album has the added attractive that it was assembled for a British patron, whom, judging by the hand writing facing each drawing, probably acquired contemporarily and perhaps directly from the author by ‘Rev. John’, and later in women’s ownership presumably, for the drawings and lithographs added.

P.O.R.

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4to. Manuscript title “Costumes of the City of Lima drawn by a Native; with explanatory notes by John Revd... 1840”, 4 pp. (manuscript introduction to the album), 35 watercolours on wove paper, tipped onto album leaves, with manuscript text descriptions tipped onto opposing pages, some missing. Each drawing measures approximately 200 x 145 mm. 19th century embossed boards, spine flat, all tooled in blind, scuffed and worn, spine splitting at head. A few leaves with tears and losses, surface dirt, scattered creases throughout, light browning and spotting, minor scraps and cuttings tipped in at back of album.

These drawings can be confidently attributed to Peruvian 19th century artist Pancho Fierro, they manifest his mastery of color and represent faithfully the true character of local costumes, rather than the more idealized and often iconographically incorrect European perception from books like Skinner’s.

Although no signature is found and no attribution is made, the color and the quality of the watercolors is remarkable and reflects the characteristic style of Fierro (1809 - 1879) a Peruvian self-taught artist, son of a criollo and a black slave, whose valuable iconographic testimonies are some of the best we have of Republican life in the country.

On Fierro, much has been written, and is to-date a subject of research; his drawings, representing the life and costumes of Lima´s inhabitants –of which he probably made about 1200- are highly coveted and are a brilliant artistic record. Fierro is an extremely important figure, his drawings have been part of the famous Hispanic Society’s treasure exhibit at the Prado (one of the pieces thought to be significant enough to be exhibited in the museum), as well as the subject of book-length bibliographies.

Provenance: English manuscript title reading ‘Costumes of the City of Lima drawn by a Native; with explanatory notes by John Revd... 1840’, dated 1840, the album includes European romantic scenes, a few drawings of flowers, an English biblical historical scene lithograph, and a few other pieces, including a large excerpt from the ‘Death of Herod’, in a later hand from the description of the drawings, presumably from the second half of the 19th century, finally a trimmed lithograph of a full fighter with women; English newspaper clipping on front pastedown, 19th century.

The drawings were presumably compiled by the English patron, Rev. John, he later on had bound in England, and from there passed to a woman, who added the birds, flowers and romantic scenes and clippings.

Marcus Burke and Natalia Majluf, Tipos del Perú. La Lima criolla de Pancho Fierro. Madrid, El Viso/The Hispanic Society of America, 2008, p. 17-50.

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[Fierro, Pancho, attributed to]

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