The Murals by Diego Rivera at the National Palace in Mexico City - Part 1

The Palacio National (National Palace) in Mexico City houses the offices of the president and takes up an entire block on the east side of the main zocalo, the Plaza de la Constitucion.

One of many buildings, this massive structure is quite impressive.

What makes this building even more spectacular are the murals painted by Diego Rivera.  On the arcaded upper floor of the middle inner courtyard, there are murals painted by Diego  between 1942 and 1951 depicting the life of the Aztecs before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors.   The murals are more focused on the narrative.   I will write more on this section on my next post.

The massive main stairwell has three arched wall areas where Diego painted Epic of the Mexican People, which showcases the history of Mexico.  He painted this between 1929 and 1935.  And how ironic, the Palacio National was the exact spot where the palace of the last Aztec ruler, Montezuma, had been before the Spaniards destroyed it.

To get a better view of the murals, click on the image and it will go full screen. 

This photo gives you an idea of the massive scale of these murals, painted almost like a triptych.

The Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire.   Mounted on a white horse is Cortes defeating the Aztecs and the Aztecs fighting against the Spanish.

The eagle with a serpent in its mouth represents the Aztec culture and today is the main symbol of modern Mexico.

The Independence and the Revolution.

In the center, the bald man is Miguel Hidalgo who fought for independence and
Emiliano Zapata with the-two tone sombrero holding the flag that reads tierra y libertad, or land and liberty.

Dictatorship and Reform.  To the left of the scroll is Benito Juárez, the first indigenous president to Mexico.

The mural on the north wall in the stairwell is dedicated to the Aztec people, their traditions and way of life.  The image of the sun is the center of the Aztec religion.  Below is the Aztec ruler, Tlatoani, with his headdress of quetzal feathers with a pyramid in the background.  Men and women are involved with the agriculture, arts and crafts.   Where on the lower left, the god Huitzilopochtli is leading a war of destruction and slavery.

In contrast, the mural on the south wall is about the future of Mexico, Rivera, a communist, paints the soviet flag along with factories, workers and Karl Marx.  At the bottom, center, he included his wife, Frida Kahlo and her sister, Cristina, depicted as socialist teachers.  All promoting a better future.

The murals are such a beautiful work of art.  A visit to the National Palace is definitely on my itinerary for my next tour to Mexico City (hopefully October 0f 2021).