Acolman: The Cloister Murals 1

There are two cloisters at Acolman: the smaller front patio, attributed to the Franciscans, and the grander rear cloister—an Augustinian addition. In this post we consider the murals of the smaller patio.

Dating from the 1530s, the front cloister is the smaller, plainer and darker of the two, its heavily buttressed arcades cut from black tezontle, as is the venerable cross in the center. Only the upper parts of the frescoes along the walks have survived the periodic inundations of the lower cloister. 
   The surviving frescoes, however, are later than the cloister itself, dating from the Augustinian period, circa 1560. They are broadly contemporary with those in the rear cloister and possibly by the same hand(s)  Outlined and detailed by a master draftsman in warm, sepia tones that reveal a powerful Flemish influence, all feature architectural backgrounds.

The Annunciation, witnessed by Saints Augustine and John of Sahagun

The four most complete corner frescoes are on the west side of the cloister and, rarely for cloister mural cycles, illustrate episodes from the Life of the Virgin Mary. 
   These comprise The Annunciation, The Visitation, The Nativity and a partial Adoration of the Magi. In each scene, except for the Magi fresco, two Augustinian saints, including Augustine and St. Jerome, witness the event from the lower corners.

The Visitation, witnessed by Saints Ambrose and Jerome

The Nativity (Adoration of the Child) with two female saints

Adoration of the Magi

Two other related but largely erased murals appear on the east walk of the cloister. Both are assumed to portray Marian themes, and again, pairs of saints observe the proceedings from either corner.

    
singing feline? and friar (images courtesy of Jim Cook)

All the narrative frescoes are framed by broad, bold grotesque panels with human and animal visages enmeshed in stylized foliage.

 

St. Ambrose and St. Jerome

  

Evangelists

Along the arcades, portraits of the four Evangelists, alternating with the four Fathers of the Church, cling to the inner faces of the corner piers, while Augustinian saints are shown on the intermediate ones.

text © 2018 Richard D. Perry
photography by the author, Robert Jackson, Jim Cook, & ELTB