The document shown is a small excerpt of the book, "Collection of Poems of Minor and Major Art as a Gift of the Purísima Concepción de Nuestra Señora la Virgen María." It was written in 1805 by Manuel Quiroz y Campo Sagrado and dedicated to Joseph Mariano de Ferrara, priest of Xochitepec.
Colección de varias poesías de arte mayor y menor (1805) by Manuel Quiroz y Campo SagradoArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico
Manuel Quiroz during his time was considered a person lacking in talent, but today his work reflects the rich cultural wealth of the Vice-Regal period.
The dominant theme contained in this poetry collection is the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary. In his prologue, Quiroz viewed his poetry as a weapon of defense against the Lutherans and their questions surrounding traditional dogma.
Colección de varias poesías de arte mayor y menor (1805) by Manuel Quiroz y Campo SagradoArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico
The book is composed of poems of minor art (8 syllables or less) and major art (more than 8 syllables), written in various styles: five-line stanzas, romances, 'esdrújula' verses, tenths, octaves, sonnets, and silent poems.
Colección de varias poesías de arte mayor y menor (1805) by Manuel Quiroz y Campo SagradoArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico
The cultural wealth of the period shines through these pages, and the language is not only beautiful, but also the calligraphy, decorations, colors, images. This colorful mixture of words and images are imbued with Manuel Quiroz' creativity.
The book also has play on words and games hidden within, for example on page 156 it is necessary to complete the sentence with the corresponding image in each paragraph.
For example, the first line reads: The world found itself imprisoned in chains.
The whole stanza has to be deciphered line by line using the illustrations.
Manuel Quiroz y Campo Sagrado
1805
México
AGN,Fondo reservado
