El concierto virreinal de las artes en la Ciudad de México: La fiesta para la dedicación de la iglesia conventual de San Bernardo

Abstract

The dedication of nunnery churches during the 17th century was accompanied by celebrations filled with both piety and ostentation. These events were meticulously recorded in urban chronicles and printed accounts commissioned for the occasion. By means of those feasts, patrons and nuns praised the new buildings while underscoring their public image. The San Bernardo convent is a remarkable example of this phenomenon. The construction of the church brought together the city’s foremost artists. The lavish celebration was described by Alonso Ramírez de Vargas in print and sor Juana Inés de la Cruz wrote the words to the octet sung during the dedication.