The architectural function of this part of the house was food consumption, consequently, this area has been traditionally referred to as the Dining room. The space is richly decorated with wood and plaster moldings, as well as mural paintings that emulate wallpaper, which provides warmth, while the former produce a sense of rhythm and order. It is a tradition of Mexican families to embellish dining rooms with great luxury and amuse their guests with culinary delights. The meals can last for hours; therefore, the comfort and beauty of rooms was particularly important, accessorizing the space with furniture and other objects that highlighted the social status of the family.
This room houses some select works from the Viceregal and 19th Century Art Collection, which was created as a result of an intense private collecting activity. Among the objects that can be found here, some are singular because they perfectly exemplify the production of relevant artists, or they synthesize the artistic production of a period.
The conservation and study of pieces by a specific artist allows researchers and visitors to deepen into individual artistic production. To achieve this, it is necessary to recognize the personal manufacturing characteristics, the individual solutions given to composition and figures, decorative elements or formulas to address a message or a theme. Each of these aspects can be related to concrete periods or precise historical moments, hence, they stand as valuable pieces in the collection.
Other artworks are important since they represent more general features in art, which can be found repeated in many pieces for their effectiveness or due to the acceptance certain models had among a group of patrons. Their value is connected to those things they have in common, allowing us to glimpse at the generalized thoughts of the society that created them.
On the other hand, utilitarian objects demonstrate the luxury achieved by some families, expressed by works created with valuable materials or pieces considered sumptuous by their appearance. This room displays a diversity in the interest and patronage of the viceregal and independent societies, related to domestic devotions and furniture, although it is also possible that some of these objects had been created for public spaces.
