Located in the historic center of Mexico City, Academia de San Carlos is widely recognized as the oldest art academy in the Americas and one of the most influential institutions in the history of Latin American art. The institution was formally authorized by Royal Decree (Real Cédula) in 1783 and officially inaugurated on November 4, 1785 as the Royal Academy of the Three Noble Arts of San Carlos (Real Academia de las Tres Nobles Artes de San Carlos). It became the first institution in the Americas to offer systematic academic training in painting, sculpture, architecture, and engraving, following the educational model of Europe's leading fine arts academies.

Initially housed in the Royal Mint (Real Casa de Moneda), the academy relocated in 1791 to the former Hospital del Amor de Dios, a sixteenth-century building that remains closely associated with the institution today. Inspired by the curriculum of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando in Madrid, the school introduced rigorous academic training based on Neoclassical principles, emphasizing life drawing, anatomy, geometry, classical sculpture, and architectural design. Students practiced using plaster casts of ancient Greek and Roman masterpieces, as well as engravings imported from Europe, laying the foundation for formal artistic education across the continent.

Throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Academia de San Carlos served as the principal center for artistic education in New Spain and later independent Mexico. Its influence extended well beyond the country's borders, attracting students and scholars from across Latin America. The academy played a decisive role in shaping generations of artists and architects, while promoting the transition from colonial artistic traditions to modern Mexican visual culture. Distinguished figures associated with the institution include architect Manuel Tolsá, landscape painter José María Velasco, and celebrated muralists Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and Rufino Tamayo, all of whom studied, taught, or maintained close ties with the academy during their careers.

Another remarkable aspect of Academia de San Carlos is its historic artistic collection. It assembled one of the earliest teaching collections in the Americas, featuring plaster casts of classical sculptures, European engravings, paintings, and rare books imported from Spain and Italy. These collections later evolved into one of Latin America's earliest art museums, preserving invaluable works and educational resources that continue to support research and exhibitions today. In 1910, when the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) was established, the academy became part of the university system and eventually formed the basis of today's Faculty of Arts and Design (Facultad de Artes y Diseño). More than 240 years after its founding, Academia de San Carlos remains a landmark of artistic education and cultural heritage, standing as the institution that pioneered academic fine arts instruction throughout the Americas.

According to the Internet