Aponte’s erudition guided the wide-ranging historical, mythological, and artistic references that comprise the images in his “book of paintings.” He developed his creative vision, in part, through books he acquired and kept in his own library and through conversations with others in Havana’s community of free people of color. He also engaged with the visual culture of the city when crafting his work of art. Aponte’s myriad references, coupled with the many layers of the trial testimony as a historical document (discussed here), can make approaching the book a difficult task.
To that end, the list below contains some of the themes that Aponte treats throughout his book. There is overlap between some of the themes, and the list is by no means exhaustive. However, the aim is to provide a broad look at some of the themes of the book. For more details, see the subject matter list which includes specific people, places, and things per lámina.
|
Theme
|
Láminas
|
| Aponte’s family/militias of free people of color |
Láminas 18-19, Lámina 31, Láminas 32-33 |
| Biblical episodes |
Lámina 1, Láminas 2-3, Láminas 4-5, Láminas 16-17, Lámina 43 |
| Ethiopia |
Láminas 4-5, Láminas 6-7, Láminas 14-15, Láminas 16-17, Lámina 26, Lámina 29, Lámina 37, Lámina 44a, Láminas 44b-45, Láminas 46-47 |
| Europe/Spain |
Láminas 6-7, Láminas 8-9, Láminas 10-11, Láminas 12-13, Láminas 16-17, Láminas 18-19, Lámina 26, Lámina 27, Lámina 28, Lámina 29, Lámina 30, Lámina 31, Láminas 32-33, Lámina 34, Lámina 36, Lámina 37, Lámina 44a, Láminas 44b-45 |
| Greco-Roman gods, goddesses, muses |
Láminas 10-11, Láminas 12-13, Láminas 14-15, Láminas 16-17, Láminas 18-19, Lámina 26, Lámina 36, Lámina 38, Lámina 39, Lámina 41, Lámina 48, Lámina 49, Lámina 52, Lámina 53, Lámina 54, Lámina 55, Lámina 56, Lámina 57, Lámina 58, Lámina 59, Lámina 60a, Lámina 60b, Lámina 61a, Lámina 61b, Lámina 62, Lámina 63, Lámina 64, Lámina 68a, Lámina 68b, Lámina 69, Lámina 70, Lámina 71, Lámina 72 |
| Havana |
Láminas 8-9, Láminas 18-19, Lámina 20, Lámina 21, Lámina 22, Lámina 23, Láminas 24-25, Láminas 32-33, Láminas 46-47 |