Acolman: The Porteria murals

In our first post we looked at the frescoes inside the church at Acolman. In the next several posts we turn to the murals inside the adjacent convento, starting with the entry portería.

Unfortunately, no complete murals have survived inside the long, arcaded porteria at Acolman. The only remnant is a sprawling, if partial polychrome fresco across the end lunette, rendered in burgundy, turquoise and varied washes of earth colors. 

Sufficient vestiges remain to identify it as representing, among other elements, the Virtues, Prudence, Faith and Charity, as well as sins like Avarice, accompanied by other figures including friars and a partial Holy Trinity with the Virgin Mary, all afloat in a swirl of celestial clouds.

 

The Virgin Mary;                                             God the Father

The Virtues, detail

In the adjacent entry vestibule only the monochrome frieze remains above the painted doorway, elegantly inscribed with the Latin legend from Genesis:
 “How awesome is this place. It is none other than the House of God and the Gateway to Heaven.”  
Similar ornamental lettered friezes appear throughout the convento quoting in most cases from the Psalms and other Old Testament sources.

In addition, painted doorways and niches appear throughout the convento, including this colorful baroque wall retablo, portraying Augustinian friars.

text and images © 2018 Richard D. Perry