- Address: Paque Forestal S / N, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile;
- Official page: mnba.cl;
- Phone: +56 2 2499 1600;
- Working hours: every day from 10:00 to 18:45.
The National Museum of Fine Arts in Santiago was founded in 1880 and today it is one of the oldest museums in South America and the center of the painting of the continent. For all the time the existence of the museum, he changed the building three times, the latter was built specifically for him and has a unique architecture.
History
The opening of the museum took place on September 18, 1880 and then it was called Museo National de Pinturas (Museum of National Painting). For the first seven years, ordinary Chileans who did not have anything to do with art could visit the museum only a few days a year and then for such cases only a couple of rooms with a limited number of exhibits were opened. The museum was designed to study painting by national artists.
In 1887 in Santiago a building was built, known as the Parthenon, in which annual art exhibitions and exhibitions were held. The government decided to use this building for the museum and immediately all the exhibits of the Museo National de Pinturas were transported. At the same time, the temple of painting received a new name - the Museum of Fine Arts. Chileans had the opportunity to visit it more often, as the number of open exhibitions increased significantly.
In 1997, the Museum was managed by the artist Enrique Lunch, who made it open to ordinary Chileans. This was an important step for the development of national culture - every resident of a huge country could see with his own eyes masterpieces of national painting.
It was not long before the question arose whether to build an original building for the museum in which the school of fine arts could also be located. Local for him was chosen Forest Park, at that time he was one of the most beautiful in Santiago . Work on the project began in 1901, and its opening occurred in 1910 and it is not accidental. This year was celebrated the centenary of Chile's independence.
Architecture
The project of a modern building for the museum was designed by the Chilean architect Emilio Jackcourt. The talented master decided to combine two styles - baroque and arnivo, thanks to which the structure received a unique appearance. The internal layout is not so original, as the Small Royal Palace in Paris was taken for example, but this does not at all plead its greatness.
The museum has a central hall, which is the heart of the building. In order for natural light to penetrate it, a dome was made, crowning a huge hall. The dome itself is a separate grandiose project. It was manufactured in Belgium and its weight is 115 tons, with only a weight of glass of almost 2.5 tons.
In the central hall there are marble and bronze sculptures, as well as some representatives of the collection of ancient statues that look like celestials under the direct rays of the sun, enhancing the visitors' impressions from what they saw.
Collection
In the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts there are more than 3,000 exhibits, among them paintings of Chilean and world artists, ancient drawings, engravings and sculptures of various periods. On the first floor of the museum there are two halls in which the best objects of painting are exhibited throughout South America: one hall is dedicated to paintings by European artists, and the second is dedicated to Francisco de Zurbarán, Camille Pissarro, Charles-François Dobigny and so on.
If we talk about European painting, the collection contains 60 paintings from Italy and only a few works by Flemish and Dutch masters. Basically, paintings were written in the period from the second half of the XIX century and until the end of the twentieth century.
In 1968, a delegation from the Chinese embassy made a magnificent gift to the museum, presenting 46 scrolls, which are called emo. Their example was followed by representatives of other countries, thanks to which the Museum of Arts had 15 figures from Black Africa and 27 Japanese prints. Thus, several large halls of the museum were devoted to the art of other countries.
Where is?
The Museum of Fine Arts is located at Av. del Libertador 1473. At 30 meters from its entrance is the bus stop Avenida del Libertador, which stops several routes: 67A, 67B, 130A, 130V, 130C and 130D. In 70 meters there is one more stop - Avenida Pueyrredon, by which buses number 92А, 92 В, 92С, 93А and 93В pass.