Exploring the Early Americas

The Jay I. Kislak Collection

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Native artists prepared this codex in 1531 as part of a lawsuit brought by indigenous people of Huejotzingo, Mexico, on behalf of Hernán Cortés. Cortés sued the judges of the Mexico City court for demanding excessive tribute payments from the Indians under their jurisdiction, and they won an unprecedented victory in court. The banner shows what scholars believe is the earliest image of the Madonna and Child created by Indians in the New World.