Descriptive Summary
Andrés de San Miguel, fray, 1577-1644?
Andrés de San Miguel Manuscripts
31775792
295 leaves
Benson Latin American Collection,
General Libraries,The University of Texas at Austin
Seventeenth-century manuscript of Fray Andrés de San Miguel, Carmeline friar and architect, contains writings on architecture, mathematics, astronomy, theology, botany, and hydrology and includes technical and architectural drawings.
Spanish or Castilian.
Biographical Note
Architect and Carmelite friar. Born Andrés de Segura de la Alcuña in 1577 in Medinasidonia, Spain; died circa 1644 in Guanajuato, Mexico. First sailed to New Spain in 1593, staying briefly in Veracruz. He was shipwrecked in the Caribbean and stranded in Florida, where he vowed to join the Carmelite religious order if rescued. He returned to Spain in 1595 but went back to New Spain in 1597, settling in Puebla. He joined the Carmelites in 1598, taking the name Andrés de San Miguel. His first construction, the Convento del Desierto in Santa Fe, was begun in 1606. He built the Convento de San Ángel, considered his master work, in 1615 and began construction of the Monasterio de Querétaro in 1618. Between 1629 and 1632, he built monasteries in Celaya, Morelia, and Salvatierra, as well as a bridge over the Lerma River. From 1632 he lived in Mexico City, working on draining the valley. He died in Salvatierra, Guanajuato, circa 1644.
His written works include Qué cosa sea la arquitectura, De los cimientos de los edificios, Descripción del templo de Salomón, Fábrica de los relojes horizontales, Algunos tratados de astronomía, Tratado de plantas y frutas de la huerta del Colegio de San Angel, Chimalistae, and Informe acerca del desagüe de México.
Chronology
1577
Born Andrés de Segura de la Alcuña in Medinasidonia, Spain.
1593
Sailed to New Spain, landing briefly in Veracruz. Shipwrecked in the Caribbean and eventually stranded in Florida, he vowed to join the Order of the Carmelites if rescued.
1595
Returned to Spain.
1597
Sailed to New Spain, this time settling in Puebla.
1598
Joined the Carmelites, taking the name Andrés de San Miguel. Continued to practice architecture.
1606
Began his first contruction--the Convento del Desierto in Santa Fe. Not completed until 1610 or 1614.
1615
Built his “master work”: the Convento de San Angel.
1618
Began construction of the Monasterio de Querétero.
1629-1632
Constructed monasteries in Celaya, Morelia, and (his last) Salvatierra. Built a bridge spanning the Lerma River on the road between Mexico City and Toluca.
1632
From this date on lived in Mexico City, working to drain the valley.
1644
Died in Salvatierra, Guanajuato.
Scope and Contents
Manuscripts containing writings on architecture, mathematics, astronomy, theology, botany, and hydrology. A seventeenth-century manuscript (G73) contains various writings which include technical and architectural drawings of buildings and bridges, mathematical tables and illustrations, schematics of equipment such as pumps and pendulums, and other drawings. Subjects treated include applied geometry, technical drawing, mosiac design, construction of simple timepieces, the composition of the cosmos, a description of the temple of Solomon, and the draining of lakes around Mexico City. G65 is a nineteenth-century manuscript copy of leaves 124-138 from G73.
The manuscripts are in Spanish.
Alternative Form Available
The manuscripts are also available on microfilm.
Preferred Citation
Andrés de San Miguel Manuscripts, Benson Latin American Collection, General Libraries, University of Texas at Austin
Acquisition Information
The Andrés de San Miguel Manuscripts form part of the Genaro García Collection, which was purchased by the University of Texas in 1921 from the heirs of Genaro García. .
Processing Information
Prepared by the Mexican Archives ProjectJanuary 6, 1994.
The manuscripts were described by the Benson Latin American Collection's Mexican Archives Project in December 1994.
Index Terms
Subjects
Andrés de San Miguel, fray, 1577-1644?--Archives.
Architecture--Composition, proportion, etc.
Architecture, Spanish colonial--Mexico.
Geometry, Descriptive
Drainage--Mexico--Mexico City
Theology--17th century
Astronomy
Related Material
García, Genaro, 1867-1920.
Genaro García Collection, 15-- - 1920?,
Benson Latin American Collection, General Libraries, University of Texas at Austin.
Other Finding Aids
The following guide is available in the Benson Latin American Collection Rare Books Reference:
Castañeda, Carlos Eduardo, 1896-1958.
Guide to the Latin American Manuscripts in the University of Texas Library.
Cambridge, Mass. :
Harvard University Press,
1939.