The scientific books of the library of the Academy of San Carlos mentioned in an inventory dated in 1863

The Academy of San Carlos, in New Spain, was the first school of arts in the New World. Studying the bibliographic collection that made up the library of this institution allows us to look at the teaching within its classrooms. The constant and preponderant presence of scientific books in the library of an institution remembered for its artistic production, invites reflection on how, from its origins, it was planned with a solid base of scientific knowledge for the training of future architects and artists. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the presence of scientific books in this patrimonial library, using as a primary source a manuscript dated 1863, in which its author, Jesús Fuentes, secretary of the Academy, describes each of the titles that until then formed the collection.