Santa Teresa la Antigua
Encyclopedia
Santa Teresa la Antigua is a former convent located in the historic center of Mexico City
on Licenciado Primo de Verdad #6 just northeast of the city's main plaza
. The complex ceased to be a convent in the latter part of the 19th century and has housed the Santa Teresa la Antigua Alternative Art Center since 1989.
ran into a storm that threatened to destroy it. The archbishop promised Saint Teresa of Ávila
to establish a Carmelite monastery if she would allow him to reach New Spain
safely. Once securely on land, he convinced sisters Inés Castillet and Mariana de la Encarnación, heiresses of the plantations of Juan Luis de Riveral, to finance the project. The convent also had a number of other wealthy contributors, such as the Marquise of Guadalcazar.
Much of the convent was built in eight months, and the order was established in 1616; it was first known as the San José de las Carmelitas Descalzas convent. However, popularly the complex was known as “Santa Teresa la Antigua.”
Much of the facility was built with the intention of allowing public access, except for certain areas reserved for the nuns. The order was an austere one, as it followed the Spanish Discalced Carmelites
tradition of writer and nun Teresa Zepeda y Ahumada. Unlike many other convents of the time, it had no servants or other help other than girls aspiring to be admitted into the order.
The convent’s church was rebuilt in 1684 by Captain Esteban de Molina and was renamed officially as “Nuestra Señora de la Antigua.” Much of the complex was rebuilt by Antonio Gonzalez Velazquez and the chapel of Señor de Santa Teresa was dedicated in 1813. Paintings by the Spanish artist Rafael Ximeno y Planes
were added at this time. An earthquake demolished the dome and the apse
, taking with them the paintings done by Ximeno. Reconstruction, replacing the older dome with a double-vaulted one, took thirteen years. New paintings were done by Juan Cordero.
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz once lived here, but due to her fragile health and the austere conditions of the order, she soon moved to another convent nearby in the city. The convent also served as a prison for Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez
, one of the earliest conspirators for Mexican Independence
.
In 1863, the convent was closed and the complex was converted to secular use. It served as military barracks, a school for teachers, as the home of the National University
, the print shop of the government news agency and as the archive of the Secretary of Finance
. In 1989, the convent was rededicated as the Ex-Santa Teresa Alternative Art Center, specializing in performance art as well as static pieces. A non-profit organization dedicated to collecting alternative art was founded in 1993 here.
portals. Both the first and second stories appear to be adorned with Solomonic column
s, but the columns on the second floor are really smooth helixes. The window frame facing the street is profusely decorated and includes anagrams of the names of the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph
and Saint Joachim
. The exterior contains sixteen Corinthian columns
and there is a dome decorated with stained-glass windows.
After the building was repaired from an 1845 earthquake, its walls were repainted by Juan Cordero. The walls contain paintings called "The Christ of Saint Theresa," and "Saint Matthew." The cupola was painted with an image of God, the Father surrounded by images representing virtues.
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
on Licenciado Primo de Verdad #6 just northeast of the city's main plaza
Zócalo
The Zócalo is the main plaza or square in the heart of the historic center of Mexico City. The plaza used to be known simply as the "Main Square" or "Arms Square," and today its formal name is Plaza de la Constitución...
. The complex ceased to be a convent in the latter part of the 19th century and has housed the Santa Teresa la Antigua Alternative Art Center since 1989.
History of the convent
The impetus behind the establishment of the convent occurred in 1613 when the ship carrying archbishop Juan Pérez de la SernaJuan Pérez de la Serna
Juan Pérez de la Serna was born in Cervera, Spain and died in Zamora, Spain. He was the seventh Archbishop of Mexico. He served as archbishop from May 13, 1613 to June 19, 1627.- See also :...
ran into a storm that threatened to destroy it. The archbishop promised Saint Teresa of Ávila
Teresa of Ávila
Saint Teresa of Ávila, also called Saint Teresa of Jesus, baptized as Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada, was a prominent Spanish mystic, Roman Catholic saint, Carmelite nun, and writer of the Counter Reformation, and theologian of contemplative life through mental prayer...
to establish a Carmelite monastery if she would allow him to reach New Spain
New Spain
New Spain, formally called the Viceroyalty of New Spain , was a viceroyalty of the Spanish colonial empire, comprising primarily territories in what was known then as 'América Septentrional' or North America. Its capital was Mexico City, formerly Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire...
safely. Once securely on land, he convinced sisters Inés Castillet and Mariana de la Encarnación, heiresses of the plantations of Juan Luis de Riveral, to finance the project. The convent also had a number of other wealthy contributors, such as the Marquise of Guadalcazar.
Much of the convent was built in eight months, and the order was established in 1616; it was first known as the San José de las Carmelitas Descalzas convent. However, popularly the complex was known as “Santa Teresa la Antigua.”
Much of the facility was built with the intention of allowing public access, except for certain areas reserved for the nuns. The order was an austere one, as it followed the Spanish Discalced Carmelites
Discalced Carmelites
The Discalced Carmelites, or Barefoot Carmelites, is a Catholic mendicant order with roots in the eremitic tradition of the Desert Fathers and Mothers...
tradition of writer and nun Teresa Zepeda y Ahumada. Unlike many other convents of the time, it had no servants or other help other than girls aspiring to be admitted into the order.
The convent’s church was rebuilt in 1684 by Captain Esteban de Molina and was renamed officially as “Nuestra Señora de la Antigua.” Much of the complex was rebuilt by Antonio Gonzalez Velazquez and the chapel of Señor de Santa Teresa was dedicated in 1813. Paintings by the Spanish artist Rafael Ximeno y Planes
Rafael Ximeno y Planes
Rafael Ximeno y Planes was a Spanish painter. Some of his work appears in the Basílica de la Asunción, in the town of Cieza....
were added at this time. An earthquake demolished the dome and the apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
, taking with them the paintings done by Ximeno. Reconstruction, replacing the older dome with a double-vaulted one, took thirteen years. New paintings were done by Juan Cordero.
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz once lived here, but due to her fragile health and the austere conditions of the order, she soon moved to another convent nearby in the city. The convent also served as a prison for Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez
Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez
María Josefa Cresencia Ortiz y Girón, popularly known as Doña Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez or La Corregidora was an insurgent and supporter of the Mexican War of Independence, which fought for independence against Spain, in the early 19th century...
, one of the earliest conspirators for Mexican Independence
Mexican War of Independence
The Mexican War of Independence was an armed conflict between the people of Mexico and the Spanish colonial authorities which started on 16 September 1810. The movement, which became known as the Mexican War of Independence, was led by Mexican-born Spaniards, Mestizos and Amerindians who sought...
.
In 1863, the convent was closed and the complex was converted to secular use. It served as military barracks, a school for teachers, as the home of the National University
Unam
UNAM or UNaM may refer to:* National University of Misiones, a National University in Posadas, Argentina*National Autonomous University of Mexico , the large public autonomous university based in Mexico City...
, the print shop of the government news agency and as the archive of the Secretary of Finance
Secretariat of Finance and Public Credit
The Secretariat of Finance and Public Credit is Mexico's finance ministry. The Secretary of Finance and Public Credit is a member of the federal executive cabinet and is appointed by the President of the Republic.In Mexico the Secretary of Finance is the head of the Secretariat of Finance and...
. In 1989, the convent was rededicated as the Ex-Santa Teresa Alternative Art Center, specializing in performance art as well as static pieces. A non-profit organization dedicated to collecting alternative art was founded in 1993 here.
Building's notable features
The facade inclines noticeably backwards, which is due to the uneven sinking of the building into the soft soil underneath Mexico City, and is divided by buttresses. The convent has two identical BaroqueBaroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
portals. Both the first and second stories appear to be adorned with Solomonic column
Solomonic column
The Solomonic column, also called Barley-sugar column, is a helical column, characterized by a spiraling twisting shaft like a corkscrew...
s, but the columns on the second floor are really smooth helixes. The window frame facing the street is profusely decorated and includes anagrams of the names of the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph is a figure in the Gospels, the husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ ....
and Saint Joachim
Joachim
Saint Joachim was the husband of Saint Anne and the father of Mary, the mother of Jesus in the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican traditions. The story of Joachim and Anne appears first in the apocryphal Gospel of James...
. The exterior contains sixteen Corinthian columns
Corinthian order
The Corinthian order is one of the three principal classical orders of ancient Greek and Roman architecture. The other two are the Doric and Ionic. When classical architecture was revived during the Renaissance, two more orders were added to the canon, the Tuscan order and the Composite order...
and there is a dome decorated with stained-glass windows.
After the building was repaired from an 1845 earthquake, its walls were repainted by Juan Cordero. The walls contain paintings called "The Christ of Saint Theresa," and "Saint Matthew." The cupola was painted with an image of God, the Father surrounded by images representing virtues.