Bartola
(active 1849-1890), Exhibited as one of 'The Last of the Ancient Aztecs' or 'The Aztec Lilliputians'Sitter in 1 portrait
Bartola and his sister Maximo suffered from microcephaly, a neuro-developmental disorder resulting in reduced growth, head size and impaired intellectual development. Discovered by a Spanish trader named Ramon Selva who told their Mexican peasant parents that he would take the siblings to the US and have them treated, he instead sold them to a promoter. They were exhibited by Barnham Circus which exploited their physical attributes and disorder and created a myth about the pair being part of a lost Aztec civilisation. They were invited to meet the US President Filllmore and were taken to England in 1853 where they were exhibited at the Ethnological Society and met the Royal Family at Buckingham Palace.
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, late 1870s?
NPG x132258
Tell us more back to top
Can you tell us more about this person? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.
If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. If you wish to license an image, please use our Rights and Images service.
Please note that we cannot provide valuations.
We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.