Artists Leonard Ashby and Heather Hurst stand in front of their re-creation of an ancient Maya mural.

Authentic duplication of Maya murals is laborious task

Ancient murals depicting the rites of a vanished Maya ,tribe are being painstakingly reproduced in New Haven under the watchful eye of Mary Miller, the Vincent Scully Professor of the History of Art and a preeminent scholar of Mesoamerican art. Miller, who is also master of Saybrook College, is one of the leading authorities on Bonampak, the ruins of a Maya city containing 1,200-year-old murals depicting the battles and ceremonial rites of a long lost Maya tribe. Discovered by archaeologists in 1946, the site, deep in the rain forest of Mexico, was given the name "Bonampak," which literally means "painted wall," in recognition of its artistic treasures. Artists Heather Hurst and Leonard Ashby have been working on the project for two years. They are currently attempting to re-create a fresco lining Room No. 2 in Bonampak, which -- at 28 feet by 8 feet -- is half the size of the original. It is one of three murals that Miller is having reproduced with the goal of someday creating a traveling exhibit of Maya art. The murals variously depict the welcoming rites of a new heir apparent, the sacrifice of prisoners after a victorious battle and bloodletting rites of passage. The Bonampak murals have increased modern understanding of the Maya people, says Miller, who describes the murals as "the single most important artifact and information about the art of Mesoamerican history." Recreating the murals is not an easy task. Little natural light enters the buildings in Bonampak, making the original murals hard to see and even harder to photograph. The murals were cleaned in 1980, revealing hitherto hidden details, but scientists still had to use infrared photography to capture the faded images. Furthermore, reproducing the colors, intricate designs and hieroglyphics is a labor-intensive task, especially since Miller insists that the artists include the timeworn chips and flaws of the originals. "We insist on archaeological authenticity," says Miller. T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S University launches review of Yale College curriculum New hires are 'coup' for physics departments Confessions of a 'maverick' President Levin's Charge to the Committee on Yale College Education Arturo Bris named Haas Assistant Professor Yale School of Management bolsters its senior faculty ranks Florencio López-de-Silanes, expert in world finances, to head new institute Tragedy propels media to promote 'us-ness,' says journalist SCHOOL OF NURSING NEWS Fall American Academy of Nursing honors three from YSN New Dorothy Sexton Scholarship honors creator . . . Yale Health Plan members were innoculated . . . Yale Rep's holiday season offering is farcical tale of 'hucksterism' IN FOCUS: Yale Center for International & Area Studies Center 'brings the world to Yale' as it trains global leaders Quarterback Peter Lee honored as an outstanding scholar-athlete Final Tercentennial Tetelman Fellow to speak at events 'Race and Reunion' wins third annual Douglass Prize Authentic duplication of Maya murals is laborious task Emerging Infection Program wins support for study . . . Ackerman to propose 'New Paradigm for Campaign Finance' Rescheduled conference to explore ethnic cleansing in America and Europe Art of the Restoration Concert to feature 18th-century works and instrument Playwright Margolin to discuss 'Theater of Desire' at master's tea A day to remember Yale faculty members celebrate new books Yale aids holiday fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House Yale Books in Brief Bulletin Home|Visiting on Campus|Calendar of Events|In the News|Bulletin Board Yale Scoreboard|Classified Ads|Search Archives|Deadlines Bulletin Staff|Public Affairs Home|News Releases| E-Mail Us|Yale Home Page