High on the arid northeastern rim of the Valley of Mexico, Otumba is the only town to commemorate in its place name the Otomà people, the first settlers of the region. After the completion in 1550 of the Arcos de Zempoala, an imposing aqueduct that brought water to the settlement, the primitive Franciscan adobe mission was replaced by the stone monastery, distinguished by its intricate, tequitqui stone carving throughout.
The richness of the stonework was once matched by the extensive convento murals, which are now only partial and in poor condition.
Several archways are painted in color, some with foliated or grotesque bands and portraits of archangels, framed by black and white coffering with red accents.
Other passages of complex, multilayered panels and friezes, appear around the doorways, also mostly monochromatic.
Again, these feature unusual geometrical coffering in Renaissance style with Mannerist swags and strapwork, leavened by figural elements of birds and foliage with some enigmatic humans or supernaturals .
A complete mural above one doorway depicts a stylized Calvary scene with a panoply of the Arma Christi.
text © 2019 Richard D. Perry
images by the author and courtesy of Niccolo Brooker
No comments:
Post a Comment