Summary
The Palace of Fine Arts is the largest and most important stage space in Mexico City. It is one of many public buildings that began during the government of Porfirio Díaz, who was in office from 1876 to 1911. The building features murals that were executed by some of Mexico’s greatest artists, including Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and Roberto Montenegro, and houses sculpture and painting exhibition halls. It also houses the National Museum of Architecture and the National Theatre. This impressive Art Nouveau masterpiece was conceived for the centennial celebrations of Mexican independence in 1910 and was completed in 1934 (World Monuments Funds, 2021). Occupied by the National Institute of Fine Arts since 1947, the Palacio de Bellas Artes, with its Carrara marble interior surfaces, has been an artistic center and venue for notable events in opera, dance, music, art, and literature. The Marotti glass and iron roof create gallery spaces naturally lit by skylights. The use of materials was innovative and experimental.
The Palace of Fine Arts was listed on World Monuments Watch in 1998. Decades of deferred maintenance and failure at the junction points between systems, such as glass block, concrete, tile dome, and copper flashing along the dome ribs, resulted in severe deterioration. These same structural problems caused water to enter the building through the skylights, seriously endangering the spectacular murals of the palace.
Architecture
The striking architecture is, as mentioned above, one of the most impressive and imposing elements of the Palacio de Bellas Artes; however, it is not a single style; It is an amalgamation of various turn-of-the-century architectural movements such as Art Deco, Neoclassical, and Art Nouveau. The reason for these many different styles is the change of architect in the middle of the project; Mariscal designed the art deco interior, while Boari designed the neoclassical/art nouveau exterior façade. The façade and the interior are decorated with various sculptures designed by Leonardo Bistolfi and Agustí Querol Subirats, among others. The Palace itself can be divided into three sections: the offices of the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes, the main room and the annex rooms that are spread over three levels, and the theater that has an impressive stained glass “curtain” made of nearly a million of pieces of Glass Tiffany New York. The top floor of the main hall is the Museum of Architecture and the Museum of Fine Arts.
Murals
In addition to the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Architecture, the Palacio de Bellas Artes is also particularly known for its murals by artists such as Diego Rivera, David Siqueiros, Rufino Tamayo, and José Clemente Orozco. These works of art can be found predominantly on the first floor of the main room, although there are some pieces by Tamayo on the ground floor. Examples include Tamayo’s pieces ‘México de Hoy’ and ‘Nacimiento de la Nacionalidad’, Rivera’s four-part ‘Carnaval de la Vida Mexicana’ and Siqueiros’ three-part ‘The New Democracy’.
Events
The Palacio de Bellas Artes is best known for hosting the Ballet Folklórico de México twice a week, as well as the Compañía Nacional de Ópera de Bellas Artes and the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional. It is also the scene of almost constant exhibitions of poetry, painting, sculpture, literature, music and photography. The Ariel Awards have held there annually, as well as the Quorum Award. As a result, it is the most important cultural center in Mexico and was recognized by UNESCO as an artistic monument in 1987.
What else is good to know about the Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City?
Before visiting the Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes, there are a few things to keep in mind. If you travel on a budget, be sure to take advantage of their days off. Every Sunday, both Mexican nationals and international guests can visit for free. Anyone under the age of 13 or with a disability can visit for free any day of the week. Also, you can’t book tickets online, so be prepared to buy them at the venue box office. When you visit the Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes, you will find yourself close to other exciting attractions. Located in the Centro district, some of the best places in the city are nearby, such as Alameda Central, the oldest park in the city. You can also explore the Franz Mayer Museum, a short distance to the west.
Work Cited:
World Monuments Fund. 2021 Palacio De Bellas Artes.