Antonio del Río - Stone tower with three floors

Antonio del Río was a captain who led the first excavation of the Maya ruins of Palenque in Chiapas, Mexico. The expedition was undertaken in 1787 for Charles III of Spain, following reports of the ruins from native inhabitants. It took the team two weeks to dig, and it then spent three weeks studying the site. He was accompanied by Ricardo Almendáriz who created drawings of the ruins still considered scientifically useful.

More Illustrations in Book: Description of the ruins of an ancient city, discovered near Palenque, in the kingdom of Guatamala, in Spanish America (View all 14)

Two figures, one seated and one standing, with tools and decorative elements

Two figures, one seated and one standing, with tools and decorative elements (1822)

Antonio del Río (Spanish , 1745 – 1789)
Architectural elements with figures, dogs, and corn

Architectural elements with figures, dogs, and corn (1822)

Antonio del Río (Spanish , 1745 – 1789)
Six abstract designs

Six abstract designs (1822)

Antonio del Río (Spanish , 1745 – 1789)
Figure seated on a bench in the form of an animal

Figure seated on a bench in the form of an animal (1822)

Antonio del Río (Spanish , 1745 – 1789)
Two figures standing, facing each other and holding a long, serpentine object

Two figures standing, facing each other and holding a long, serpentine object (1822)

Antonio del Río (Spanish , 1745 – 1789)
Two figures, one seated, one standing

Two figures, one seated, one standing (1822)

Antonio del Río (Spanish , 1745 – 1789)
Two seated figures and two-headed dog within a circle

Two seated figures and two-headed dog within a circle (1822)

Antonio del Río (Spanish , 1745 – 1789)
Architectural element decorated with birds and abstract designs

Architectural element decorated with birds and abstract designs (1822)

Antonio del Río (Spanish , 1745 – 1789)
Six abstract designs.

Six abstract designs. (1822)

Antonio del Río (Spanish , 1745 – 1789)
Two circular images

Two circular images (1822)

Antonio del Río (Spanish , 1745 – 1789)
Two seated figures flanking one standing figure

Two seated figures flanking one standing figure (1822)

Antonio del Río (Spanish , 1745 – 1789)
Floor plan

Floor plan (1822)

Antonio del Río (Spanish , 1745 – 1789)
Two figures, one standing, one kneeling, with naturalistic border

Two figures, one standing, one kneeling, with naturalistic border (1822)

Antonio del Río (Spanish , 1745 – 1789)
View all 14 Artworks