In the historic center of Mexico City we can find an important cultural space of Latin America, we are referring to the Palace of Fine Arts, this impressive place houses in its rooms sublime and priceless pieces of art, is one of the recommended destinations for all those who ever visit the wonderful city of Mexico.
A bit of history
The initial design and construction was undertaken by Italian architect Adamo Boari in 1904, but complications arising from the soft subsoil and the political turmoil before and during the Mexican Revolution hampered and then halted construction completely in 1913.
Construction resumed in 1932 under the direction of Mexican architect Federico Mariscal and was completed in 1934. It was inaugurated on November 29 of that same year and was the first art museum in Mexico dedicated to the exhibition of artistic objects for contemplation.
A majestic building
Being in the surroundings of this historic building you can contemplate all its grandeur, resplendent ceilings announce to visitors that they are about to discover a sample of Mexican cultural history.
The palace has a mixture of various architectural styles; however, it is mainly Art Nouveau and Art Deco – two architectural movements considered modern. Art Nouveau dominates the exterior, which was done by Adamo Boari, and the interior is dominated by Art Deco, which was done by Federico Mariscal.
The magic of a brilliant interior
Once inside the enclosure welcomes you in elegant spaces of powerful splendor, all the details, from the most minimalist to the most avant-garde, denote the versed ability to make a solemn tribute to all the artists who inherited their art to the museum.
It is divided into three sections: the main lobby with adjacent smaller exhibition rooms, the theater and the offices of the National Institute of Fine Arts; the second: there are exhibition rooms of José Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Diego Rivera, Jorge González Camarena, Roberto Montenegro and Manuel Rodríguez Lozano; and the third: it is occupied by the Museum of Architecture.
The immortal murals
The floors between the first floor and the upper floor are dominated by a series of murals painted by most of the famous names of Mexican muralism, especially that mythical name of Diego Rivera attracts the eyes of mortals like a magnet.
As if it were the representation of a poem on the third floor is “The Man Controlling the Universe” (known as Man at the Crossroads), originally commissioned by Diego Rivera for Rockefeller Center in New York in 1933.
However, the story goes that the Rockefellers were not happy with the painting commissioned to Rivera for its anti-capitalist elements, for this reason, the original brushstrokes were destroyed in New York, to finish his work Rivera took some photographs that served as inspiration for the mural that is currently in the Museum of Fine Arts.
The architecture of beauty
It is inevitable, for all those who want to know Mexico City, to be attracted by the majesty of this emblematic place, because apart from the exhibition halls, the place. The Palace has been the scene of some of the most notable music, dance, theater, opera and literature events and has hosted important painting, sculpture and photography exhibitions.
It hosts all kinds of cultural events and the artists and companies come from all over Mexico and abroad. It has been called the “Cathedral of Art in Mexico” and is considered the most important theater and the most important cultural center in Mexico.
Two of the best known groups that perform regularly here are the Ballet Folklórico de México, Compañía Nacional de Ópera de Bellas Artes and the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional. The former performs at the theater twice a week and is a pre- and post-Hispanic dance performance from Mexico.
A recommended site for all those who at some time in their tourist journey around the world want to know a symbolic narration of all the historical elements that were mixed to establish the legacy of Mexican culture.
@alex-martinez
