THINGS TO DO THIS LONG WEEKEND
MUSEO DOLORES OLMEDO, XOCHIMILCO
Museo Dolores Olmedo is a museum of immense style, just like the lady from which the name is taken. Located in Xochimilco, south of Mexico City, the Dolores Olmedo Museum occupies the building known previously as Hacienda La Noria, of which construction dates from the late seventeenth century. Dolores was a collector of Mexican artworks and prehispanic figurines. There is an extensive collection of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo paintings, as well as various etchings of Pablo O´Higgins and Angelina Beloff. The works are beautifully presented within the house itself, which is immaculately detailed. There are about five different rooms with artworks on display. However, Frida lovers will be happy because of the size of original works in the offer.
Also, there are almost a thousand archaeological pieces from Mesoamerican cultures. Her interest in these pieces is obvious to all. Walking through the rooms you immediately draw the link with Museo Anahuacalli and this interest she shared with fellow collector Diego Rivera. There is also an extensive collection of saints, and folk art from many different parts of the country.
Dolores Olmedo y Patiño Suárez was from a Mexican industrialist family who made her fortune in the construction industry. Although she started a degree in the Faculty of Law at the National University of Mexico, she dropped it to study art at the Academy of San Carlos. This initial pathway led to a lifelong appreciation for the arts, and her support of everything Mexican, including painting, sculpture, theatre and music. During her ventures she amassed an extensive personal collection of Diego Rivera artworks, and they constantly mixed within the same circles. Following the death of Frida, Dolores was asked by Diego if she would manage their museums for the benefit of the people. So began her personal interest in museums.
Probably the most stunning aspect of this amazing place is the garden. The moment I walked through the entrance I was hit by the beauty of the place. The Peacocks roam free over the expanses of grass and trees. The trees bulge with life, hummingbirds swoop and click overhead. You must journey amongst these expanses to get to the house. Then when I was just about the get to the house, along came three of the strangest dogs I have ever seen. So peculiar there is a kind of fondness about them. Completely without hair on their bodies, yet some along their tails and spiked hair. They are called xoloitzcuintles, a prehispanic dog. If you’ve never seen them before, seriously you´ll spend ages looking at them. at the beautiful surroundings, the ducks, back to the dogs and then realise that you came here to visit the inside of the building.
This museum is surreal: the setting beautiful, the collection beyond belief, a very good gift shop, magnificent gardens, exotic animals. On my way back to metro Tasqeña on the tram, I was thinking about what I saw and what I thought I saw. Only to be confirmed the following time.
Tram from metro Tasqeña: 25 minute ride to Station La Noria, then a short walk. It is best to be there the moment the museum opens. An absolute delight.
MUSEO DOLORES OLMEDO, XOCHIMILCO
Museo Dolores Olmedo is a museum of immense style, just like the lady from which the name is taken. Located in Xochimilco, south of Mexico City, the Dolores Olmedo Museum occupies the building known previously as Hacienda La Noria, of which construction dates from the late seventeenth century. Dolores was a collector of Mexican artworks and prehispanic figurines. There is an extensive collection of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo paintings, as well as various etchings of Pablo O´Higgins and Angelina Beloff. The works are beautifully presented within the house itself, which is immaculately detailed. There are about five different rooms with artworks on display. However, Frida lovers will be happy because of the size of original works in the offer. Also, there are almost a thousand archaeological pieces from Mesoamerican cultures. Her interest in these pieces is obvious to all. Walking through the rooms you immediately draw the link with Museo Anahuacalli and this interest she shared with fellow collector Diego Rivera. There is also an extensive collection of saints, and folk art from many different parts of the country.
Dolores Olmedo y Patiño Suárez was from a Mexican industrialist family who made her fortune in the construction industry. Although she started a degree in the Faculty of Law at the National University of Mexico, she dropped it to study art at the Academy of San Carlos. This initial pathway led to a lifelong appreciation for the arts, and her support of everything Mexican, including painting, sculpture, theatre and music. During her ventures she amassed an extensive personal collection of Diego Rivera artworks, and they constantly mixed within the same circles. Following the death of Frida, Dolores was asked by Diego if she would manage their museums for the benefit of the people. So began her personal interest in museums.
Probably the most stunning aspect of this amazing place is the garden. The moment I walked through the entrance I was hit by the beauty of the place. The Peacocks roam free over the expanses of grass and trees. The trees bulge with life, hummingbirds swoop and click overhead. You must journey amongst these expanses to get to the house. Then when I was just about the get to the house, along came three of the strangest dogs I have ever seen. So peculiar there is a kind of fondness about them. Completely without hair on their bodies, yet some along their tails and spiked hair. They are called xoloitzcuintles, a prehispanic dog. If you’ve never seen them before, seriously you´ll spend ages looking at them. at the beautiful surroundings, the ducks, back to the dogs and then realise that you came here to visit the inside of the building.
This museum is surreal: the setting beautiful, the collection beyond belief, a very good gift shop, magnificent gardens, exotic animals. On my way back to metro Tasqeña on the tram, I was thinking about what I saw and what I thought I saw. Only to be confirmed the following time.
Tram from metro Tasqeña: 25 minute ride to Station La Noria, then a short walk. It is best to be there the moment the museum opens. An absolute delight.
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