baptism scene

baptism scene

This is a detail of the text on the bottom half of the 1st double register, showing a baptism scene. A bearded indigenous male kneels before a friar, whose hand is above the kneeling man’s head. The man in armor, presumably intended to be Hernando Cortés, has his right hand placed on the man’s shoulder. Two other indigenous men also kneel, and three stand observing from the background. [SW]