The history of art in San Miguel: The legacy of the Barajas family

Published September 9, 2022

By Natalie Taylor

One San Miguel de Allende family has left a lasting contribution in the art of our city. Their legacy spans almost 200 years, from the 19th century to the present. I had the good fortune of meeting one of the descendants, Rolando Guerrero Garcia, who graciously invited me to his home, showed me some of the artwork of his ancestors, and shared the information he has about them.

Rolando’s great-great grandfather, Jose Maria Barajas, was born in San Miguel de Allende in 1840. Rolando is not sure where Jose Maria Barajas studied, but believes he may have received   his art education at the Academia de San Carlos, a renowned college of art, architecture and design, founded in the 18th century. Although he has not found documentation, he believes his ancestor could not have painted as exquisitely as he did, without a solid foundation from a distinguished art school.

The most important works of Jose Maria Barajas are the murals he did in Atotonilco. We know the majority of the murals at the Sanctuary were done by Antonio Martinez de Pocasangre in the 18th century. However, Pocasangre was unable to finish all these murals in his life time, and the work was left incomplete for almost a century. It was Jose Maria Barajas who completed the work in the Capilla de Loreto, in the Sanctuary at Atotonilco. Jose Maria Barajas was a painter on canvas, as well, and Rolando has a number of his paintings at home. Another of his works, is the restoration of a mural in the church of San Juan de Dios. It is located on the left wall, when you enter the church through the main door.

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