Pasivos, exóticos, vencidos, víctimas. El indígena americano en la cultura oficial española del siglo XIX

Abstract

This article analizes the role that the american indian has represented in visual culture in Spain during the nineteenth century. The author takes into consideration the history painting and the monuments erected in this period. It is possible to recognise four main issues: 1) The passive, with a double slope political and religious, that conduce to exhibit a natural superiority of spanish people; 2) The resigned and exotic personality, connected to a picturesque vision far from any conflict; 3) The powerful enemy, defeated in spite of his courage; and 4) The considerable nobility, connected to the character as much as the rising of liberal spirit.