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 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 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 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,
Víctor Manuel,
Federico Beltrán Masses, 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 and
Jorge Arche.
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 community in northwest Spain.
It is coextensiv ...
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 - ''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.
See also
*
List of buildings in Havana
This is a list of the preserved important buildings in Havana, capital of Cuba.
Havana was called by the Spanish as the "Key to the New World", and due to the British invasion attempts the Spanish greatly fortified it.
The colonial coat of arm ...
*
List of museums in Cuba
This is a list of museums in Cuba.
By province Artemisa
* Alquízar Municipal Museum
* Artemisa Municipal Museum
* Bahía Honda Municipal Museum
* Bauta Municipal Museum
* Candelaria Municipal Museum
* Guanajay Municipal Museum
* Güira de ...
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