Santiago Sebastian Lopez

SANTIAGO SEBASTIÁN LÓPEZ, (Villamarquedo, 1931 - Valencia, 1995).
"Borgia Codex.
Study book and box. With notarial certificate.
Facsimile. Copy 58/178.
Measurements: 48 x 38 x 8.5 cm (box).

The work Codex Borgia in the iconographic context of America, published by Grupo de Arte y Bibliofilia in 1990, is a deluxe facsimile edition that reproduces the famous pre-Columbian codex known as Codex Borgia. This codex, dating from the Late Postclassic period (900-1521 A.D.), is one of the most important sources for the study of religion, ritual and iconography in Central Mexico. Its content covers aspects such as the calendar, divination, gods and the rituals associated with them. The work is composed of 39 sections extending over 76 pages, and is believed to have been produced by the Nahua of Tlaxcala or Cholula, or by the Mixtecs.

The facsimile edition published by Grupo de Arte y Bibliofilia is characterized by its high quality of reproduction, allowing the iconographic richness of the original codex to be appreciated in detail. Each page is decorated with intricate drawings that combine human figures, animals and natural elements, using a vibrant color palette that includes yellow, red, green and black tones. These illustrations not only have an aesthetic value, but also possess a deep symbolism that reflects the Mesoamerican cosmovision, where themes such as duality, cosmic cycles and the relationship between humans and divinities are highlighted.

The Codex Borgia is especially relevant in the study of the iconography of the Americas, as it offers a detailed vision of the rituals and beliefs of Mesoamerican cultures before the arrival of the European conquerors. Its study provides a deeper understanding of the religious practices, social organization and worldview of the peoples who inhabited central Mexico, and is an invaluable tool for historians, anthropologists and scholars of pre-Columbian art.