Mexico City's Palace of Fine Arts [Passage]

Artifacts and writings can help historians learn more about the history and culture of a particular
place. Architecture can also help reveal this history. For instance, Mexico City’s Palace of Fine
Arts is a mix of different architectural styles because it was designed by two architects across a
30-year period. These architects drew from many influences according to what was in fashion
at the time. The palace was built to commemorate 100 years of Mexico’s independence from
Spain. Although construction began in 1904, the building process was first delayed because the
soil was not sturdy enough to hold up the heavy building (to this day, the building continues to
sink into the ground). It was delayed again when the Mexican Revolution began in 1910. The
Mexican Revolution was a long struggle that led to the end of Mexico’s dictatorship and the
creation of a constitutional republic. Although the palace’s exterior was nearly finished before
the Revolution, it sat mostly empty for years. It was finally completed in 1934 and contains a
large theater, a concert hall, an art museum, and art galleries.

This impressive structure’s architecture displays a fusion of European and Mexican influences.
The original architect, Adamo Boari, was from Italy and was inspired by popular art movements
in Europe: Art Nouveau and Neoclassicism. Art Nouveau is characterized by the use of arches
and curved lines. Art Nouveau architects often combine modern materials such as metal and
glass to create a unique look. For instance, The Palace of Fine Arts has multiple domes covered
in crystal and detailed sculpted iron. Neoclassicism draws inspiration from Ancient Greece and
Rome. The palace’s large columns made of Italian marble exemplify the Neoclassical style. Boari
also added elements of Mexican culture to his design. He designed the doors of the building
with carvings of Mexican plants. He also included a sculpture of an eagle eating a snake on the
building’s highest dome. This image is on the Mexican flag. It symbolizes an Aztec legend. The
Aztecs were an ancient Indigenous civilization in central Mexico that developed complex
political and social systems. In fact, the Palace of Fine Arts was built on the site of an Aztec
sacrificial altar. The eagle and snake sculpture represents Mexico’s pride in its ancient
indigenous history.

Construction of the interior part of the building was halted during the Mexican Revolution and
began again in 1929. Frederico Mariscal, a Mexican architect and student of Boari, took over the
design of the Palace. He was inspired by Art Deco, a style involving sleek, clean lines and
simple shapes. This was a very different approach taken by Adamo Boari. The interior of the
building reflects more of Mariscal’s vision. Mariscal also took inspiration from ancient
Mesoamerican architecture. This style refers to architectural traditions of Native people of
North, Central, and South America before the arrival of Europeans. For instance, Mariscal was
inspired by Chaac, the God of rain in Mayan tradition. In the main hall, there is a mask
representing this figure. Serpent heads on window arches also demonstrate these
Mesoamerican influences.
Other Mexican architects and artists have made their own mark on this historic building.
Mexican painter Gerardo Murillo designed a glass curtain for the opera house. This curtain has
images of the Mexican landscape, including two famous Mexican volcanoes at the center. It
weighs 24 tons and is made of millions of pieces of glass. Murals by famous Mexican painters
such as Diego Rivera and José Clemente Orozco decorate the halls and galleries.

These many different influences and cultures that inspired Mexico’s Palace of Fine Arts make it
an interesting place to explore. The palace on average receives 10,000 visitors each week.
People can admire the building and enjoy plays, poetry, and the visual arts.