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| 19th century painting by Jose Manzo of interior of Puebla Cathedral. (Wikimedia Creative Commons) |
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception ay Puebla is one of the earliest great churches built in the Americas. A church was started sometime in the mid 16th century, but the present building was begun in earnest in 1575 directed by Francisco Becerra and Claudio de Arciniega. The style was based on Herrera's Valladolid design in Spain. This Herrarian style is a late Renaissance phenomenon, characterised by cits austerity. Becerra was called away to work on churches in Cuzco and Quito in 1580 and work only resumed 1587-90. Work continued into the next century, with input from Juan Cromez de Trasmonte. Things cannot have been too good, because apparently outlaws hung out in the unfinished building.
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| Bishop Juan de Palafox y Mendoza |
Bishop Juan de Palafox y Mendoza took charge in the 1640s, raised large amounts of money and with a workforce of 1500 raised the nave to admit more light and the unfinished building (no towers or facade) was consecrated in 1649. This was ahead of Mexico City in 1653. The main facade, the Puerta del Perdon was finished in 1668 ; the north tower 1678, with its 10 bells, including the 8 ton Campana Maria from 1732 rung on special occasions. The south tower only came the year earlier in 1731. Wish I could hear that bell!
Puebla is important for its domes, having the first true dome on the Mexican highland. Today there are 2 large domes, and over 30 smaller ones over chapels and the aisles throughout the building.
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| North bell tower, facade and south tower. (Wikimedia CC) |
The interior originally had a high altar by Pedro Garcia Ferrer. Unfortunately this was destroyed. However the six large pictures he created for the Capillo de los Reyes survive. This may be all he did in Mexico before his return to Spain to work in Toledo Cathedral. The artist Cristobal de Villalpando is responsible for the great dome also in the Capillo de los Reyes featuring the apotheosis of the Eucharist, (1688-9)and for the pendentives. This was the only painted dome in New Spain.
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| Dome in Capillo de los Reyes (Wikimedia CC) |
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| Retable in Capillo de los Reyes (Wikimedia CC) |
There is a choir in the nave ( 3 in plan)after entry from the Puerta del Perdon used as an oratory for the Cathedral chapter. There are 52 stalls ineo-Mudejar choir stalls of inlaid woods inside from 1719-22. There are tree organs : the first two from the early 18th century no longer speak and today we hear an instrument with electronics and keyboard from Buffal, US, pipes from Germany and wood and gold leaf from Mexico.
The sacristy contains large paintings by Baltazar de Echave of the Triumph of te Church and the Triumph of Religion.
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