Draft:José Damián Ortiz de Castro

José Damián Ortiz de Castro was a prominent 18th-century Hispanic architect who conducted a significant development projects throughout Mexico City Including the famous Mexico City Towers. He was born on September 28, 1750, where he would later receive his baptism at the Parish of San Jeronimo by priest subordinate Miguel Braulio. His parents were Jose Ortiz and Albina Maria Vazquez, both of which were formerly from Jalapa and eventually settled in Coatepec. As a matter of fact they were one of they were one of the earliest Spanish families to establish themselves in the hinterland of Jalapa and Coatepec, whereas another family branch made their house in the metropolitan area of Puebla de Los Angeles, where they essentially maintained prominent roles as trustees of the municipal council as well as cathedral.

Education[edit]
In his younger years however he was a very distinguished and responsible student. Ortiz de Castro gained his Education from the from the. It was here where he learned from the best of the best and brightest Senior Teachers the City of Mexico had to offer, as well as the entire staff of the Metropolitan Cathedral.

Career[edit]
Ortiz de Castro exceptional construction work was also very noteworthy, as he demonstrated his excellent craftsmanship through the creation of the bells comprising the highest point of the Cathedral. These bells, composed of tezontle, are merely the exterior covering sourced from Chiluca. Additionally, he stated that he devised a crane scheme to place each of the bells, including the biggest one, in their proper locations within the Cathedral itself. Furthermore he took an active role in the Revillagigedos reforms to Mexico City. He worked on several projects, including leveling the Plaza Mayor and installing the Angulos fountains in 1793. Arguably his most significant accomplishment was the finishing touches of the towers and facade of Mexico's Cathedral. In 1781 he initially applied for the job of a more senior professor at the Cathedral of Mexico However to his surprise he wasn't offered to teach by the institution until 1787. Which was the very same year he won the contest to finish the facade and towers of the Cathedral.

Architecture[edit]
As soon as development on the Metropolitan Cathedral was ultimately halted in 1786, officials decided to resume construction on the cathedral itself through the conduction of a contest. It was here between the architects who took part in the tournament one of them being none other than Jose Damian Ortiz de Castro himself. Who particularity delivered a dissertation that because of it's imaginative architectural propositions, had been accepted by the head of the Royal Academy of San Carlos, Jeronimo Antonio Gil, and the institution's main developer, Antonio Velazquez, along with gaining admiration from Spanish authorizes, as a result his suggestion agreed flawlessly with the existing structure. He often considered himself to be an architect of Mexican heritage which translated with into his architecture such pieces as (ARCHITECTURE) As well as being an enthusiast of the neoclassical style, taking inspiration from the likes of Miguel Costanzo and several others. In addition to emphasizing broadening the scope of the several buildings including the Old Mint of Mexico, and the completion of the Santa Fe Powder Facility.

Primary Works[edit]

 * Facade and Towers Project of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City
 * Facade of the Tulancingo Cathedral
 * Public Blazon on the Fence of the Temple of San Hipolito
 * Fountains of the Plaza Mayor and the Plaza of the Merced 1790-1793

Influences and Early Work-


 * In his youth he lived among Old Baroque Masters such as Lorenzo Rodriguez, Guerrero Torres, and with Neoclassical Architects such as Gonzalez Velasquez and Castera.
 * Between 1772-1780 he helped Constanzo in the works on the house of the Moneda of Mexico. Together with the beautiful neoclassical facade facing Correo Mayor Street.
 * In 1779 he supported Constanzo in the construction of the Santa Fe Gunpowder Factory in Chapultepec. Which was unfortunately destroyed by a tragic fire in 1784.
 * In 1785, Don Jose Damian, presented a study at the academy of San Carlos on how different methods of fabrication could be used by construction entrepreneurs. He was recognized as the introducer of the true use of plaster in architecture as well as other new materials at the time such as iron.

Legacy- Jose Damian Ortiz de Castro was a great Architect, and his career was boosted thanks to the interesting work and renovations he carried out in his life. For his time he was an innovative architect, since he was one of the first architects to use iron, therefore using it in the Bell Towers of his distinct Baroque Architecture. Something so revolutionary for it's time. Not to mention the fact that after he participated in the expansion work of the Mint. He then became so interested in designing the world's very first and functioning coin lathe. In which became popular very quickly and effectively until it reached to be arguably one of the world's largest Mint Houses in it's day.

References[edit]

 * 1) ^ Fernández, Justino (1969-08-15). A Guide to Mexican Art: From Its Beginnings to the Present. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-24421-1.
 * 2) ^ Bethell, Leslie (1998-08-13). A Cultural History of Latin America: Literature, Music and the Visual Arts in the 19th and 20th Centuries. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-316-58389-0.
 * 3) ^ Varona, Esteban Antonio de (1958). A Handbook of Mexican Treasures. Unión gráfica.
 * 4) ^ Noguera, Jose Rogelio Alvarez (2008-01-01). Jose Damian Ortiz de Castro. Maestro mayor de la catedral de Mexico, 1787 - 1793 (in Spanish). México, D.F: Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes. ISBN 978-607-455-100-6.
 * 5) ^ crossref. "Chooser". chooser.crossref.org. doi:10.7560/733039. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
 * 6) ^ crossref. "Chooser". chooser.crossref.org. doi:10.7560/733039. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
 * 7) ^ Baxter, Sylvester (1901). Spanish-colonial Architecture in Mexico. J. B. Millet.
 * 8) ^ Glancey, Jonathan (2006-04-17). Eyewitness Companions: Architecture: Architecture. Penguin. ISBN 978-0-7566-4482-6.
 * 9) ^ vínculo, Obtener; Facebook; Twitter; Pinterest; electrónico, Correo; apps, Otras. "José Damián Ortiz de Castro". Retrieved 2024-03-30. : |last2= has generic name ( help)
 * 10) ^ Bonfitto, Peter Louis (2021-12-06). World Architecture and Society: From Stonehenge to One World Trade Center [2 volumes]. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 978-1-4408-6585-5.