© Niccolo Brooker
(Plazuela de los martires de
Tacubaya)
Founded
in 1586 on the northern outskirts of the city, this substantial chapel and adjacent
hospice/convento were completed in the early 1600s by the dieguiños, members of the barefoot Franciscan order of San Diego.
©Luis Arturo Saavedra
The present façade however dates from the 18th
century, by which time the dedication of the church had changed from St.
Barbara to St.
Anthony of Padua.
Although more rustic in feeling and execution than the larger tiled city churches, the cliff like brick and tile front is unevenly but inventively patterned in woven petatillo style with blue and white floral azulejos set on point.
© Niccolo Brooker
Three
ornamental talavera panels
depicting St. Francis, St. Anthony of Padua and in the
gable, La Purísima are contained by rococo flourishes and outlined in whimsical, moorish style, outer frames.
© Niccolo Brooker
The exquisite relief
above the doorway is unexpectedly carved from translucent tecali, or Mexican alabaster, and portrays
St. Barbara, the original patron of the church, with her traditional attributes of tower, monstrance and martyr's crown and palm. Her sandaled feet and the nearby cactus add an authentic Mexican touch.
© Niccolo Brooker
©Luis Arturo Saavedra
A handsome tiled baptistry and fountain rests inside the church, inset with the Franciscan arms.
The church and convento stand inside a spacious precinct with tiled walls, gateway and niches and an intimate cloister and fountain.
Dormition? of the Virgin ©Luis Arturo Saavedra
Inside a spacious domed sacristy hang a series of paintings on the life of the Virgin by the baroque poblano artist José Rodríguez Carnero:
text © 2013 Richard Perry.
Photography courtesy of Niccolò Brooker & Luis Arturo Saavedra
We accept no ads. If you enjoy our posts you may support our efforts
by buying our guidebooks on colonial Mexico
No comments:
Post a Comment