The Curaçao Museum (

Dutch Dutch or Nederlands commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands ** Dutch people as an ethnic group () ** Dutch nationality law, history and regulations of Dutch citizenship () ** Dutch language () * In specific terms, i ...

: ''Curaçaosch Museum'',

Papiamentu Papiamento () or Papiamentu (; ) is a Portuguese-based creole language spoken in the Dutch Caribbean. It is the most widely spoken language on Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao (ABC islands (Leeward Antilles), ABC Islands). The language, spelled ...

: ''Museo di Kòrsou'') is an art and cultural history museum in Curaçao. The museum opened on 7 March 1948, and is the oldest museum in Curaçao which still exists. The museum is located in the former military hospital.

History

In 1946, the Curaçao Museum Foundation was established by Chris Engels to create a museum about the art and cultural history of the

Netherlands Antilles The Netherlands Antilles (, ; ), also known as the Dutch Antilles, was a constituent Caribbean country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands consisting of the islands of Saba (island), Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten in the Lesser Antilles, ...

which was partially funded by the government and by the Curaçaoan community who raised ƒ 80,000 for the project. The museum was opened in 1948 in the former military

quarantine A quarantine is a restriction on the movement of people, animals, and goods which is intended to prevent the spread of disease or pests. It is often used in connection to disease and illness, preventing the movement of those who may have bee ...

hospital Mundo Nobo. The buildings date from 1853 and have been redesigned between 1951 and 1953 to form one complex. The museum contains a large collection of historical objects such as furniture, artifacts, and a traditional Curaçaoan kitchen. The objects date from the 18th until the early 20th century. There is a large collection of paintings, sculptures and drawings. The basement contains an exhibition of the

Amerindian In the Americas, Indigenous peoples comprise the two continents' pre-Columbian inhabitants, as well as the ethnic groups that identify with them in the 15th century, as well as the ethnic groups that identify with the pre-Columbian population of ...

history of Curaçao. CURA-willemst-museum-snip

The museum also contains the locomotive of the first mining railway, and the cockpit of the ''Snip'', the first airplane to land in Curaçao from the Netherlands. There is a

botanical garden A botanical garden or botanic gardenThe terms ''botanic'' and ''botanical'' and ''garden'' or ''gardens'' are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word ''botanic'' is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is ...

on the grounds with trees and plants which have become rare on Curaçao. The sculpture garden contains statues of the freedom fighters Luis Brion and

Manuel Piar Manuel Carlos María Francisco Piar Gómez (April 28, 1774 – October 16, 1817) was General-in-Chief of the army fighting Spain during the Venezuelan War of Independence. Heritage and early life The son of Fernando Alonso Piar y Lottyn, a Spani ...

. The Curaçao Museum regularly organises exhibitions of local and international artists. In 1954, it organised the first exhibition of

Vincent van Gogh Vincent Willem van Gogh (; 30 March 185329 July 1890) was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter who is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art. In just over a decade, he created approximately 2,100 artworks ...

in the Caribbean. Artist who have exhibited in the Curaçao Museum include

Hendrik Chabot Hendrikus "Henk" Chabot (; 2 August 1894 – 2 May 1949) was a Dutch painter and sculptor. Hendrik Chabot: Artist beyond Expressionism. '' If there is any one modern Dutch painter who stands near to Van Gogh, it is, surely, Hendrik Chabot (1894 ...

, Edgar Fernhout, Wim Schuhmacher, Maryleen Schiltkamp,

Jan Sluyters Johannes Carolus Bernardus (Jan) Sluijters, or Sluyters (17 December 1881 in 's-Hertogenbosch – 8 May 1957 in Amsterdam) was a Dutch painter and co-founder of the Moderne Kunstkring. Sluijters (in English often spelled "Sluyters") was a leadin ...

, and Carel Willink. ''Eksibishon di nos Arte'' (Exhibition of our Art) is an exhibition which is organised every five years to showcase the local art scene.

Building

The museum is located in the former military hospital ''Mundo Novo'' (new world). The government had purchased the plantation Plantersrust, and in 1892, constructed a military hospital on top of the hill. The building consists of separate units connected by galleries. It has been declared a monument. During World War II, the building had been used as an

internment camp Internment is the imprisonment of people, commonly in large groups, without Criminal charge, charges or Indictment, intent to file charges. The term is especially used for the confinement "of enemy citizens in wartime or of terrorism suspects ...

for Jewish women and children who had been put ashore.

References

Bibliography

External links

Official site
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Curacao Museum Art museums and galleries in North America Buildings and structures in Willemstad Museums in Curaçao

History

Building

See also

References

Bibliography

External links