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Throughout the centuries, from the 16th century to the present, the Academy of San Carlos has been the crucible where successive generations of creators have been molded, many of whom played a fundamental role in the configuration of a large part of the cultural heritage rooted in the very heart of the Historic Center.
If a traveler walks along Moneda Street from the capital’s iconic Zócalo to the east, turning right on the first block, he or she will come across six remarkable medallions that capture the faces of key figures in the history of art in our country: Michelangelo, Rafael, Jerónimo Antonio Gil, Carlos III, José Bernardo Couto and Manuel Tolsá. These names, moreover, are fundamental in the chronicle of the building that stands before the walker: the Antigua Academia de San Carlos.
Today, the orange-toned building houses the prestigious Graduate Studies Division of the Faculty of Arts and Design of the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
However, this building had various roles in the past, until it became the home of the Real Academia de Nobles Artes de San Carlos de Nueva España in 1791.
The Academy of San Carlos as a Hospital
Fray Juan de Zumárraga, the first bishop of the diocese of Mexico and founder of the Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico, established in this same space, around 1539, a hospital, taking advantage of land that was destined to be a prison within the archbishopric. This medical center welcomed people suffering from diseases such as syphilis or leprosy, conditions that could not be treated in the limited hospitals of the time.
In a significant historical twist, in 1546, King Charles V issued a decree that assigned the rents of the town of Ocuituco, in the current state of Morelos, to support this place, since then known as the Royal Hospital of the Love of God. Fray Zumárraga formally linked the institution to the Cathedral and it was agreed that a part of the tithes would be destined to the care of the sick.
The original building underwent expansions a few years later, incorporating the houses that had belonged to the Colegio de Niñas Indias. Later, on the corner where Academia and Moneda streets intersect, a church was built, which further enriched the architectural complex.
For almost two and a half centuries, this hospital, in which Carlos Sigüenza y Góngora, an influential novo-Hispanic thinker, assumed the role of second chaplain, operated steadily with its one hundred and fifty beds. However, in 1786, patients were transferred to the General Hospital of San Andrés, located on Tacuba Street, now home to the National Museum of Art. This relocation marked the definitive closing of the Hospital del Amor de Dios.
San Carlos Academy as a school
Two prominent personalities, Gerónimo Antonio Gil, an outstanding carver of the Royal Mint, and Fernando José Mangino, superintendent of the same institution, presented Viceroy Martín de Mayorga with an ambitious project to establish a school of painting, sculpture and architecture. Thanks to this bold initiative, in 1783, Charles III gave his approval for the creation of the Academy of San Carlos. Initially, this institution was headquartered in the Casa de Moneda, although the number of students increased significantly, which led to the leasing of the current space for the annual sum of one thousand pesos.
The Academy was established on the former site of the Hospital del Amor de Dios in 1791. In the same year, the renowned educators Rafael Jimeno, an expert in painting, and Manuel Tolsá, a skilled sculptor, arrived from the metropolis. Tolsá brought with him a valuable collection of plaster replicas of sculptures from the Vatican Museum, a gift from King Charles III, which later received praise from the illustrious Baron von Humboldt.
Tolsá became a transcendental figure in the city’s Historic Center, contributing to the construction of a new dome for the Metropolitan Cathedral and the restoration of its main façade. He was also involved in the design of the Colegio de Minería and created his masterpiece, the equestrian statue of King Charles IV.
Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Carlos
In 1794, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Carlos acquired the building it had been leasing since 1791, undertaking a complete renovation that nevertheless preserved the original architectural structure.
Throughout the War of Independence, the Academy faced a period of decadence marked by the exhaustion of the resources destined to its maintenance, which culminated in its closure in 1821. Subsequently, in 1824, in the midst of the Mexican independence era with Agustín de Iturbide as emperor, the institution reopened its doors, although it was in 1843 that its finances were stabilized, thanks to a fund established by one of the various governments led by Antonio López de Santa Anna.
Remodeling and updating of the San Carlos academy
In 1858, under the direction of Bernardo Couto, the most notable reforms to the structure were carried out up to that date. The Italian architect Javier Cavallari, who also served as director of the institution, led this project. In this way, the old hospital was expanded and transformed, giving rise to the impressive architectural work that continues to amaze us today.
The main façade, designed in a Renaissance style, stands out for its cushioning and the presence of the aforementioned medallions.
Also, you can admire a replica of the sculpture of St. George, a work of the Florentine artist Donatello, which was a gift from the Italian government to Mexico during the Centennial of Independence. In 1913, the brothers Manuel and Carlos Ituarte completed the construction of a striking art nouveau style iron and glass dome that protects the structure.
Over the generations, a succession of influential artists, including such figures as Pedro Patiño Ixtolinque, Pelegrín Clavé, José María Velasco, Gerardo Murillo, Santiago Rebull, Salomé Pina, Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros and Rufino Tamayo, have left their mark in the Academy’s classrooms, either as teachers or students.
The echoes of Mexico’s rich artistic history continue to resonate in the surprising streets of the Historic Center at the San Carlos Academy.
