Search Results for puebla

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Building Search Results (10)

1. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, Puebla, Puebla, 16th-18th Century

   One of the original seven dioceses, the bishopric was originally established in Tlaxcala in 1531, then moved to Puebla in 1539.  Construction on the present cathedral started in 1575 and continued for almost two centuries. The interior was complete by 1649, the facade by the 1660s, the first tower by 1680, and the second not until 1768. The Baroque facade of the church, restrained in ornamentation, reflects the influence of the Spanish architect Juan de Herrera. The interior of the building was completely refurbished in a Neo-Classical style in the early 19th century.

2. St. Gabriel (San Gabriel), Cholula, Puebla, 16th Century

   The cornerstone of this Franciscan monastery was set in 1549. The church was dedicated in 1552, but construction continued well past this date. The most unique feature of the complex is the Capilla Real, a structure that was built and maintained by the indigenous people of the region. Reminiscent of the mosque in Córdoba, the interior contains nine aisles, each with seven bays, separated by octagonal and round columns. Originally the bays had wooden artesonado ceilings, but they were replaced by tiled domes in the 18th century.

3. Church of San Cristóbal, 17th Century, Puebla. Puebla

   Construction on the church of San Cristóbal, Puebla, was completed in 1687. Built to serve an orphanage, the church abounds with sculptures of children and cherubs. Manuel Toussaint characterizes the church of San Cristóbal in Puebla as "Rich Baroque," an important stepping stone between "Sober Baroque" and the "Exuberant Baroque" of the Rosary Chapel of Santo Domingo, Puebla. He asserts that the adornment of the facade of grey stone and marble arises from artistic caprice and fantasy, resulting in a refined lavishness. The original towers were torn down in 1856 and reconstructed in the second half of the 20th century. The interior vaults are completely covered with relief ornament.

4. Church of Santa María Tonantzintla, 17th - 18th century, Tonantzintla, Puebla

   A folk version of the Rosary Chapel of Santo Domingo in the city of Puebla, the church at Tonantzintla probably started construction sometime after 1690. The elaborate stucco work of the interior, designed and executed by native craftsmen, makes this church a unique masterpiece.  The interior decoration was probably completed in the 18th century.  The name of the village, Tonanzintla, means the place of Tonantzín.  A pre-Columbian mother goddess, Tonantzín has been identified with the cult of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico. The multitude of indigenous elements incorporated into the decoration points to the fusion of indigenous and European elements in the Mexican Catholic church. 

5. House of Tiles, House of the Condes del Valle de Orizaba, Mexico City, D.F., 18th Century

   This stunningly beautiful house is unique in that the entire exterior wall space of the building is covered with glazed ceramic tiles (azulejos), hence its popular name Casa de Azulejos or House of Tiles. For over two centuries, the property was held by the Condes [Counts] del Valle de Orizaba, one of the wealthiest families in Mexico. There is little documentation on the construction of the building, but a legend has grown up around its origin. It tells of a ne’er-do-well son of one of the Counts. Enraged by his son’s irresponsibility, the Count claims his son will “never build a house of tiles,” a Spanish saying that is the equivalent of saying that he will never amount to anything. The son takes heed, becomes rich, then builds the House of Tiles. Some think that it is more likely that the Countess Graciana (1683-1737) built the house. She moved from Puebla to Mexico City in 1708, and according to her will, she rebuilt the family mansion. Sanborns purchased the house in 1919 and installed an American-style soda fountain, restaurant and store.

6. Our Lady of the Assumption, (Asunción de Nuestra Señora), Tecamachalco, Puebla, 16th Century

   The Franciscans arrived in Tecamachalco in 1541.  The church was dedicated in 1551 and completed by 1557.  During this time Andrés de Olmos, Francisco de las Navas, and Toribios de Benavente (Motolinía) resided in this dusty outpost and taught the local indigenous peoples not only the rudiments of Christianity, but also the tenets of European art.  At the same time, the diseases brought by the Spanish resulted in unremitting loss of life for the indigenous population.  The 16th century saw three major epidemics in Tecamachalco (1520, 1542, and 1577).  The authorities estimated that 90 percent of the native population in the area had disappeared by 1580. For their part, the Franciscans fervently believed that the evangelization of the indigenous population of the New World was essential to precipitate the second coming of Christ.  Not surprisingly, Motolonía drew parallels between the epidemics and famine that were decimating the native peoples and the disastrous events described in Revelation announcing the imminent return of Christ.  The Apocalypse gave meaning to this tragedy of human suffering. In 1562, Juan Gerson, a local indigenous artist, created a remarkable series of images depicting the Apocalypse of John.  He painted on amate paper, the same paper used by indigenous peoples in their pre-conquest books. He employed brilliant images using a palette typical of pre-Colombian murals: turquoise, white, black and ochre.  The finished paintings were affixed to the soffit of the choir loft in the church between the ribs of the vault.  The friars undoubtedly exposed Gerson to illustrated Bibles and prints by Albrecht Dürer, Hans Holbein, and other European artists.  While Gerson utilized the works of these European masters to organize the formal layout of many scenes, he did not copy the small, black-and-white, poorly reproduced prints.  Instead, he created large paintings imbued with rich, vibrant colors.  Gerson simplified forms and interpreted images, making them more accessible to his indigenous brothers.  The representation of death, disaster and destruction surely resonated with the local population.

7. Sixteenth Century plateresque house, Puebla, Puebla. Casa del Que Mato al Animal

   This 16th Century mansion, Casa del Que Mato al Animal, still has an excellent plateresque frame around the entry door. Elaborately carved in relief, the frame contains scenes of hunting with abundant foliage, pomegranates, and grotesques. The three story building belonged to Mayorazgo de Pérez Salazar, one of the oldest families in Puebla. It now houses the headquarters of a newspaper.

8. St. Andrew (San Andres), Calpan, Puebla, 16th Century

   Originally a visita of Huejotzingo, Saint Andrew later became an independent monastery. Work on the present complex dates from about 1548; construction was supervised by Franciscan Friar Juan de Alameda. The church, typically Plateresque, has an elaborately carved west portal, and is otherwise quite plain. The tall narrow facade has a Gothic feel with its double arched choir windows draped with the Franciscan cord. All four of the original posas are intact and in excellent condition. These, the most elaborately decorated posas in Mexico, represent an outstanding example of tequítqui sculpture. Scholars posit that perhaps the skilled craftsmen of nearby Huejotzingo carved these reliefs, but with less European supervision, and thus with a more distinct indigenous flavor.

9. St. Michael (San Miguel), 16th Century, Huejotzingo, Puebla

   The Franciscans established a mission in Huejotzingo in 1529. Construction of the present buildings started in the late 1540s and the complex was completed in the 1570s. Juan de Alameda was the architect and engineer. All four posa chapels are still in tact. Both the church and monastery retain original murals from the 16th and early 17th century. Most notable mural: the original 12 Franciscan friars who came to Mexico in 1524.

10. The Temple of San Francisco Acatepec 18th Century, Acatepec, Puebla

    Built at the end of the 18th Century, the entire facade of this Churrigueresque church was elaborated using individually crafted Talavera ceramic tiles. Solomonic columns, estipites, cornices, bell tower and dome are all skillfully fashioned by the local potters. The interior of the church equals the beauty of its brilliantly covered facade with elaborate stucco scupltural detail and a pulpit carved in stone.

Slideshow Results (5)

1. San Miguel in Huejotzingo, Puebla

   Main Portal of Ex-Convento of San Miguel, Huejotzingo, Puebla

2. Santa Maria in Tonantzintla, Puebla

   Santa Maria, Tonantzintla in Puebla

3. Puebla in Tecamachalco, Asuncion De Nuestra Senora

   AsuncionDeNuestraSenora_Tecamachalco_Puebla_full

4. San Andres in Calpan, Puebla

   Facade of San Andres, Calpan, Puebla

5. San Francisco in Acatepec, Puebla

   Tetramorph, Saint Matthew with Angel