f. 10v., don Melchor Moctezuma

This indigenous man is supposed to be the highest local dignitary, with central Mexican associations. He sits in a curule chair, taking the example from Spanish authorities. The clothing this man wears is Europeanized, with the exception of his sandals. The shading (in light gray) represents an adopted European stylistic. The ruff around his neck is a nod to sixteenth-century clothing styles. The staff he holds in his right hand symbolizes his authority. [SW]