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The Grandeur of Viceregal Mexico: Treasures from the Museo Franz Mayer

Miguel de Herrera, Portrait of a Lady, 1782, oil on canvas, Museo Franz Mayer, Mexico City.

The rich heritage of Mexico comes alive in The Grandeur of Viceregal Mexico: Treasures from the Museo Franz Mayer. This exhibition is the first in the United States to celebrate the culture of viceregal Mexico, an extraordinary era (1521-1821) when Spanish viceroys ruled Mexico.

Located in Mexico City, the Museo Franz Mayer houses an incomparable collection of Mexican colonial arts assembled by financier Franz Mayer (1882-1975). Although born and reared in Germany, Mayer cherished the heritage of his adopted country, Mexico. He created a museum and donated his substantial collection to the Mexican nation.

The Franz Mayer collection reveals that influences from many cultures-Pre-Columbian, Spanish, Islamic, and Chinese-came together in the art of colonial Mexico. The objects exhibited at the MFAH testify to this fascinating confluence of cultures.

The Grandeur of Viceregal Mexico: Treasures from the Museo Franz Mayer was organized by the Museo Franz Mayer and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. National funding was provided by the Rockefeller Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Funding in Houston was provided by Continental Airlines, Houston Endowment Inc., the Favrot Fund, Celina and Alfredo Brener, Caroline Wiess Law, Deloitte & Touche, Pepe and Bill Anderson, Linnet and Mike Deily, and the Rowan Foundation.

Related Events:

Lectures
April 5, 10:00 a.m.
April 19 and 26, and May 3, 1:30 p.m.

Tours
April 5, 12, 19, and 26, and May 7, 14, 21, and 28, 12:00 noon

Family Concerts
April 6, 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Family Day
April 14, 1:00 p.m.

Evening for Educators
April 16, 5:30 p.m.

Teacher Workshop
April 27, 9:00 a.m.

Symposium
April 27, 1:00 p.m.