Palacio de Bellas Artes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Palace of Fine Arts |
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Palacio de Bellas Artes
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Front view of the Palacio de Bellas Artes
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Art Nouveau / Neoclassical (exterior) Art Deco (interior) |
| Location | Mexico City, Mexico |
| Coordinates | 19°26′8.3″N 99°8′28.6″W / 19.435639°N 99.141278°W |
| Construction started | 1 Oct 1904 |
| Inaugurated | 1934 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Adamo Boari, Federico Mariscal, Géza Maróti, Agustí Querol Subirats, Edgar Brandt among others |
| Other information | |
| Seating capacity | 1,590 |
The Palacio de Bellas Artes (which means Palace of Fine Arts) is a very important cultural center in Mexico City. It's often called the "art cathedral of Mexico." This amazing building hosts many events like concerts, dance shows, and art exhibits. You can also see famous Mexican murals here. The Palacio de Bellas Artes is located in the western part of Mexico City's historic center, near the Alameda Central park.
This grand palace replaced an older building called the National Theater. That theater was taken down to make way for a more impressive building. The new palace was planned to celebrate 100 years of Mexico's independence in 1910. An Italian architect named Adamo Boari started designing and building it in 1904. But the ground was very soft, and political problems, especially during the Mexican Revolution, stopped the work by 1913. Construction started again in 1932 with Mexican architect Federico Mariscal. The building was finally finished in 1934 and opened on November 29, 1934.
The outside of the building looks like a mix of Art Nouveau and Neoclassical styles. The inside is mostly Art Deco. The palace is famous for its huge murals by artists like Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros. It also hosts many shows, including performances by the Ballet Folklórico de México.
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History of the Palace
The area where the palace stands today has a long history. The oldest known building there was the Convent of Santa Isabel, built in 1680. Even older Mexica artifacts, like a special altar, have been found here.
The convent was closed in the 1860s. Later, a textile mill and homes were built on the site. A part of these homes was removed to build the National Theater in the late 1800s. This theater was a major place for cultural events in Mexico City. It hosted plays, operas, and dances.
Around 1900, people decided to build an even grander theater. This was for the upcoming 100-year celebration of Mexican Independence in 1910. The old theater was torn down in 1901. The new building was meant to be called the Gran Teatro de Ópera. Italian architect Adamo Boari was chosen for the job. He also designed the Palacio del Correo nearby.
Boari started building in 1904. He planned a large metal structure, which was very modern for its time. However, the heavy building began to sink into Mexico City's soft ground. Also, political and economic problems leading to the Mexican Revolution caused delays. By 1913, construction stopped completely, and Boari returned to Italy.
The building remained unfinished for about 20 years. In 1932, a Mexican architect named Federico Mariscal took over. Mariscal finished the inside, changing Boari's original plans to the more modern Art Deco style. The palace was fully completed in 1934. It officially opened on November 29, 1934. The first play performed there was "La Verdad Sospechosa." In 1946, the National Institute of Fine Arts was created. It is now located in the Palacio.
Famous singer Maria Callas performed her first opera, Norma, here in 1950. In 2002, the funeral of famous actress María Félix was held at the palace. In 2009, the palace began major renovations. This was to update its old equipment and improve its sound and lighting systems. These updates allow for modern multimedia shows.
The Palace Building
The Palace of Fine Arts mixes several building styles. The outside, designed by Adamo Boari, is mostly Art Nouveau. The inside, finished by Federico Mariscal, is mainly Art Deco. Since it began in 1904, the theater has sunk about four meters into the soft ground of Mexico City.
The front of the building, facing Avenida Juárez, is made of white Italian Carrara marble. Inside the main entrance, you can see sculptures by Italian artist Leonardo Bistolfi. These sculptures show "Harmony" surrounded by feelings like "Pain" and "Happiness." Other parts of the facade have sculptures of cherubs and symbols of music. In front of the building, there are four Pegasus sculptures made by Spanish artist Agustí Querol Subirats.
The roof over the center of the building is made of crystal. It was designed by Hungarian artist Géza Maróti. It shows the muses with Apollo.
The inside of the palace is also covered in Carrara marble. It has three main parts: the main hall with smaller exhibit rooms, the theater, and the offices for the National Institute of Fine Arts. The main hall has the beautiful glass and iron roof. From the ground floor, you can see the balconies of all three upper floors. In some areas, you'll notice ancient Mexican designs in the Art Deco style. These include snake heads and Maya Chaac masks.
The first floor has crystal lamps made by Edgar Brandt. It also features murals by Rufino Tamayo. The Adamo Boari and Manuel M. Ponce halls host music and literature events. The National and International halls are used for exhibitions. The second floor has more exhibit halls and murals by famous artists like José Clemente Orozco and Diego Rivera. The third floor is home to the Museum of Architecture.
At the entrance to the theater, there are bronze masks of Tlaloc and Chaac, who were Aztec and Maya gods of water. These were designed by Gianette Fiorenzo. Above the stage, there are more mythological figures like the Muses with Apollo.
The most amazing part of the theater is its stage "curtain." It's a huge stained glass panel made from almost a million pieces of colorful glass by Tiffany's in New York. This curtain is the only one of its kind in any opera house in the world and weighs 24 tons! The design on the curtain shows the volcanos Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl. It also features a Mexican landscape with images of sculptures from Yautepec and Oaxaca. The theater can seat 1,590 people.
Events and Performances
The Palace of Fine Arts has been the stage for many important events in music, dance, theater, opera, and literature. It has also hosted major art exhibitions. Many famous artists from Mexico and around the world have performed or shown their work here. It is truly called the "Cathedral of Art in Mexico." In 1987, UNESCO declared it an artistic monument. About 10,000 people visit the palace every week.
Two well-known groups that perform here regularly are the Ballet Folklórico de México and the National Symphonic Orchestra. The Ballet Folklórico performs twice a week. Their shows are a colorful display of Mexican dances from different regions and times. A typical show might include Aztec ritual dances, farm dances from Jalisco, or a wedding celebration from Veracruz. These are often accompanied by mariachis and marimba players.
The palace also hosts annual events like the Premio Quorum for Mexican designers and the Premios Ariel for Mexican films. Many individual events have taken place here. These include art exhibitions of Frida Kahlo's work and performances by famous singer Luciano Pavarotti. In 1987, a unique performance of Donna Giovanni with an all-female cast was held here.
Sometimes, the plaza in front of the palace is used for protests. For example, there were protests against the Iraq War in 2003 and against bullfighting in 2010.
Murals
The floors between the ground floor and the top floor are covered with many murals. These were painted by some of the most famous Mexican muralists.
On the second floor, you'll find two works from the early 1950s by Rufino Tamayo. These are "México de Hoy" (Mexico Today) and "Nacimiento de la Nacionalidad" (Birth of Nationality). The second mural shows the creation of the mestizo identity, which is a mix of indigenous and Spanish cultures.
On the third floor, you can see "El hombre controlador del universo" (Man, Controller of the Universe). This mural is also known as Man at the Crossroads. It was originally painted for New York's Rockefeller Center in 1933. The mural shows different themes about technology and society. It caused controversy because it included images of Lenin and a Soviet May Day parade. The Rockefellers were unhappy, and the mural was destroyed. Diego Rivera recreated it here in 1934.
Also on the third floor are David Alfaro Siqueiros' "La Nueva Democracia" (New Democracy) and Rivera's "Carnaval de la Vida Mexicana" (Carnival of Mexican Life). To the east is José Clemente Orozco's "La Katharsis" (Catharsis). This mural shows the struggle between human nature and society.
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El hombre controlador del universo (Man at the Crossroads), 1934, Rivera
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Liberación (Liberation) or La humanidad se libera de la miseria (Humanity is released from Misery), 1963, Jorge González Camarena
Museums Inside the Palace
Museum of the Palace of Fine Arts
The Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes is the organization that takes care of the permanent murals and other artworks in the building. It also organizes temporary exhibits. These exhibits feature both Mexican and international artists, focusing on classic and modern art.
National Museum of Architecture
The Museo Nacional de Arquitectura (Museum of Architecture) is on the top floor of the building. It's covered by the beautiful glass and iron roof. This museum has exhibits about famous Mexican architects. You can see models, designs, and photos of their major works. The museum also has temporary exhibits to show the public Mexico's rich architectural history. Some of the important architects featured here include Adamo Boari and Luis Barragán.
Gallery
- Exterior views of the Palacio de Bellas Artes
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Sunset in the Palacio de Bellas Artes, aerial view
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Palacio de Bellas Artes and Torre Latinoamericana
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Night view of the Palacio de Bellas Artes
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Night view with warm lighting
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One of the mascarons made by Adamo Boari in the facade
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The music, work of Leonardo Bistolfi
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The Virile Age, André-Joseph Allar
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Art Nouveau eagle sculpture
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- Historical images of the Palacio de Bellas Artes
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Palacio de Bellas Artes in 1915, under construction
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The building during its construction, 1928.
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Images for kids
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Inner canopy
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Art Deco depiction of Chaac on a light panel
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Interior view of the dome, Géza Maróti
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Interior of the main concert hall.
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View of the interior art deco
See also
In Spanish: Palacio de Bellas Artes (Ciudad de México) para niños
- List of colonial non-religious buildings in Mexico City
- List of colonial churches in Mexico City
- List of archaeological sites in Mexico City
- Auditorio Nacional
