The National Museum of Fine Arts of Havana (Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de La Habana) in

Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

is a museum of

fine arts In European academic traditions, fine art is developed primarily for aesthetics or creative expression, distinguishing it from decorative art or applied art, which also has to serve some practical function, such as pottery or most metalwork ...

that exhibits Cuban art collections from the colonial times up to contemporary generations.

History

It was founded on February 23, 1913, due to the efforts of its first director,

Emilio Heredia Emilio may refer to: * Emilio Navaira, a Mexican-American singer often called "Emilio" * Emilio Piazza Memorial School, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State * Emilio (given name) * ''Emilio'' (film), a 2008 film by Kim Jorgensen See also * Emílio (dis ...

, a well-known

architect An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

. After frequent moves it was finally placed on the block once occupied by the old Colon Market. In 1954, a new Palacio de Bellas Artes was opened, designed by the architect Rodriguez Pichardo.

Overview

There are now two buildings belonging to the museum, one dedicated to Cuban art in the ''Palacio de Bellas Artes'' and one dedicated to the universal art, in the ''Palacio del Centro Asturiano''. The ''Palacio de Bellas Artes'' (Palace of Fine Arts) is dedicated exclusively to housing Cuban art collections. Spanning the 17th and 19th centuries, it has rooms devoted to landscape, religious subjects and the ''Costumbrismo'' narrative scenes of Cuban life. A gallery devoted to the 1970s is marked by a preponderance of

Hyperrealism Jean Baudrillard ( , , ; 27 July 1929 – 6 March 2007) was a French sociologist, philosopher and poet with interest in cultural studies. He is best known for his analyses of media, contemporary culture, and technological communication, as w ...

and the latest generation of Cuban artists whose works all reflect the strong symbolic imagery that has been prevalent in recent decades. The most notable works are those of

René Portocarrero René Portocarrero (born Havana, 24 February 1912; died Havana, 7 April 1985) was a Cuban artist recognised internationally for his achievements. History Portocarrero began his artistic education at the San Alejandro academy, but left early and ...

and

Wifredo Lam Wifredo Óscar de la Concepción Lam y Castilla (; December 8, 1902 – September 11, 1982), better known as Wifredo Lam, was a Cuban artist who sought to portray and revive the enduring Afro-Cuban spirit and culture. Inspired by and in conta ...

. A modernist sculpture by the noted Cuban artist Rita Lonja stands outside the main entrance. Other Cuban artists on display include

Leopoldo Romañach Leopoldo Romañach y Guillen (1862–1951) was a Cuban painter. He was born in Sierra Morena, Cuba, Sierra Morena, Corralillo, in the province of Las Villas Province, Las Villas. Romañach was a professor of color theory at San Alejandro, won a n ...

Víctor Manuel Víctor Manuel San José Sánchez (born July 7, 1947) is a Spanish singer-songwriter. He has been married to the Spanish singer and actress Ana Belén since 1972. He and his wife are considered symbols of the Spanish Transition, and his songs ...

Federico Beltrán Masses Federico Beltrán Masses (September 8, 1885 – October 4, 1949) was a Spanish painter born in Cuba; the only child of Luis Beltrán Fernández Estepona, a former Spanish army officer stationed in Cuba, and Dona Mercedes Masses Olives, the daugh ...

, Rafael Lillo, Jose A. Bencomo Mena, Manuel Vega, Domingo Ramos,

Guillermo Collazo Guillermo Collazo Tejada (7 June 1850, Santiago de Cuba - 26 September 1896, Paris) was a Cuban painter and advocate for independence. Biography Collazo was born into an established colonial family. His artistic talent was noticed at an early ag ...

, Mariano Rodriguez,

Carlos Enríquez Gómez Carlos Enríquez Gómez (August 3, 1900 – May 2, 1957), was a Cuban painter, illustrator and writer of the ''Vanguardia'' movement (the Cuban Avant-garde). Along with Víctor Manuel, Amelia Peláez, Fidelio Ponce, Antonio Gattorno, and other m ...

and

Jorge Arche Jorge is a Spanish and Portuguese given name. It is derived from the Greek name Γεώργιος ('' Georgios'') via Latin ''Georgius''; the former is derived from (''georgos''), meaning "farmer" or "earth-worker". The Latin form ''Georgius'' ...

. The ''Palacio del Centro Asturiano'', built in 1927 by the architect Manuel Bustos, houses European paintings and sculptures, along with a collection of ancient art. Originally, it was a club for natives of the Spanish province of

Asturias Asturias (, ; ast, Asturies ), officially the Principality of Asturias ( es, Principado de Asturias; ast, Principáu d'Asturies; Galician-Asturian: ''Principao d'Asturias''), is an autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in nor ...

and, after the 1959 Revolution, it housed the Supreme Court of Justice.

Gallery

File:José Nicolás de Escalera - La Santísima Trinidad.JPG,

José Nicolás de la Escalera José Nicolás de Escalera (1734 – 1804) was a Cuban painter specializing in religious scenes and portraits. He is often described as "Cuba's first painter", having been the earliest native-born artist to create a large, surviving body of professi ...

- ''The Holy Trinity'', 18th century. File:Form Space and Light.jpg, ''Forma, Espacio y Luz'', sculpture of Rita Longa at the main entrance. File:Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de La Habana.jpeg, One of the towers of the museum File:Palacio del Centro Asturiano.jpg File:La havane musee beaux-arts cuba ext.JPG, The new museum headquarters made in 1954.

References

* ''Cuba - Eyewitness Travel Guides'' (Dorling Kindersley Publishing, 2004) * ''Moon Handbooks: Cuba'' (Avalon Travel Publishing, 2007) * ''The Odyssey Illustrated Guide To Cuba'' (Guidebook Company Ltd., 1995)

External links

Nacional de Bellas Artes de La Habana web page
* {{Coord, 23, 8, 24.8, N, 82, 21, 25.9, W, type:landmark_region:CU_source:dewiki, display=title Museums in Havana Neoclassical architecture in Cuba Art museums and galleries in Cuba Art museums established in 1913 1913 establishments in Cuba