Above: Portion of “Morelos y Justicia” mural, Agustin Cardenas Castro, El Antiguo Palacio de Justicia
Inflamed by the fervor of revolt, Jose Maria Morelos dominates the stairwell of the former governmental headquarters for the Spanish city originally known as Vallodolid on the central plaza of his namesake city. In 1812, the building was repurposed to serve as a mint producing copper coins and postage stamps.
A Belgium engineer hired in 1884 to convert the structure into Michoacan’s supreme court added French architectural detailing to the façade and interior. Particularly distinctive are the pinjante arches, floating double arches with no central support columns.
The strident 1976 mural dedicated to the revolutionary figure Morelos is by Agustin Cardenas (1936-2016). Schooled in Mexico City under great muralists, including Diego Rivera, the Michoacan-born artist won numerous national competitions to design coins and stamps. He submitted the winning design for the state’s official shield as well.
But Cardenas’ talents were broader; he graduated from Morelia’s School of Sacred Music. He composed numerous works and even served as the chief organist for the Cathedral.
Today, the former Palacio de Justicia serves as a repository for historical court records and as an admission-free museum.
Postcards from Barton Springs 