Cuernavaca: The Crucifixion

In contrast to the more exotic murals of the church and cloister, the other remaining mural of note at Cuernavaca is more conventional in theme, style and coloration.

From the cathedral, a double passageway leads into the convento past a large Crucifixion mural, all that survives of what may once have been a larger, 16th century Passion cycle on the walls of the cloister. 

   Based on a Renaissance engraving, the Crucifixion scene is outlined in the customary grisaille tones enlivened with red accents—notably in the blood of Christ. Although His body has been partly effaced, the elegantly robed, but rather static figures of Mary and John are still intact. Roiling clouds, trees, rugged outcroppings and turreted palaces serve to enliven the landscape behind.

text and photography © 2018 Richard D. Perry

This is the last of our series on the murals of Cuernavaca cathedral: The Church Frescoes; The Open Chapel mural; The Spiritual Lineage; The Crucifixion;

In our next group of posts we survey the murals in the great Augustinian priory of San Agustín Acolman.