The Heart of Colonial New Spain
Colegio de San Ildefonso brings to life the colonial era of Mexico’s history. Steps away from the Zocalo and Metropolitan Cathedral, the college was an important institution at the heart in the capital of the Spanish Viceroyalty of New Spain.
The founding of the college dates back to the work of the Jesuits in the early decades of the Spanish Empire. The Jesuits were active across New Spain, working to convert the indigenous population to Roman Catholicism.
The building that now stands on the site dates back to the 18th century, and is a classic example of Spanish colonial architecture in the Baroque style. This palatial building is centered on tranquil courtyards, surrounded by grand archways, wide patios and large airy rooms and hallways.
In later centuries, the Jesuits had a turbulent time in New Spain and were expelled from the Spanish colonies by King Charles III in 1767. San Ildefonso continued to function as a college, now secular and under the control of the Viceroyalty of New Spain.
Following Mexico’s independence from Spain, President Benito Juárez introduced sweeping legislation in the 1860s, known as the Reform Laws. This transferred most church property to the Mexican state, with the education system brought under government rather than church control.
San Ildefonso became a high school (La Escuela Nacional Preparatoria) and was later incorporated into the National University (UNAM). Although La Escuela Nacional Preparatoria vacated the building in the 1970s, it reopened as a cultural center and art gallery in 1992 and has hosted some of the most acclaimed art exhibitions in Mexico City.
Birthplace of the Muralist Movement
The Mexican muralist movement swept the global art scene in the first half of the 20th century, with artists adorning public buildings with vast paintings that aimed to encapsulate the values of the Mexican Revolution and develop the public’s understanding of their nation’s history.
Colegio de San Ildefonso is widely considered the birthplace of the movement. In 1922, José Vasconcelos, who at the time was Secretary of State for Public Education and considered the ‘cultural caudillo’ of the Mexican Revolution, opened the doors of San Ildefonso to a group of artists who began to decorate the walls of the building. These artists’ murals line the walls of the college to this day.
The vast majority of the works on display were painted by José Clemente Orozco between 1923 and 1926. Orozco's works cover Mexican history, notably the Spanish conquest and Mexican Revolution, as well as social class and political concepts such as freedom, law and justice. The collection is also notable for featuring Diego Rivera’s first mural, La Creación (The Creation) located in the building’s theatre.
Art lovers will also enjoy the range of temporary exhibitions that are held in the building throughout the year, featuring top Mexican and international artists, covering diverse styles and themes from classic to contemporary.
