National Museum of Fine Arts

Avenida del Libertador 1473
Tel. 4803-4691 / 4803-0802
Open Tuesdays through Sundays from 12:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Does not close on holidays

This museum, one of the main museums of its kind in America, was created on July 16, 1895, and opened its doors on December 25, 1896, under the direction of the painter and art critic Eduardo Schiaffino, during the presidency of José Evaristo Uriburu.
Its inmediate predecessor was the artistic and literary centre "El Ateneo", created on the initiative of Rafael Obligado. The first museum was established on Pasaje Bon Marché on Florida 783. The original pieces that formed part of the Museum´s collection were donations made by Adriano Rossi (81 paintings) and José Prudencio Guerrico (21 paintings). The most valuable works are Tiépolo´s oil paintings and Rodin´s "The Genius of War".
In 1910, the Museum was moved to the Argentine Pavilion overlooking San Martín Square and finally, in 1931, it was transferred to the buildings of the original Casa de Bombas de Aguas Corrientes (Tap Water Pumping Facilities) in Recoleta, remodelled and adapted by Architect Alejandro Bustillo. Surrounded by gardens, the Museum was modified and enlarged during the '40s, '60s and '80s. It has 32 halls distributed on the ground floor and the two higher levels, two patios for the exhibition of sculptures, a library, an audio-visual room and restoration workshops.
The oldest piece amongst the Museum´s exhibits is a Virgin and Child (Auvernia) dating back to the 12th century. Special mention should also be made to works pertaining to the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries ; works by Rodin and Bourdelle ; others pertaining to the Impressionist School of Manet and Renoir; or to Post-Impressionism with works by Gaugin, Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec ; 20th century works: Cubism, Concrete, Cinematic and Abstract Art. Argentine art is represented by works by Morel, Puerredón, de la Cárcova, Spilimbergo, Pellegrini, Sívori, Victorica, Pettoruti, Fader, Basaldúa, Berni, etc. Amongst other gifts worthy of mentioning are the Santamarina collection (Primitive Argentine painters and Impressionist School) ; the Acevedo collection (Goya and Nattier) ; the donations made by the Instituto Di Tella (ancient masters), González Garaño (19th century engravings), and the Hirsch collection (Flemish masters). The Museum´s permanent collection was further enhanced by donations made by María Luisa Bemberg (paintings by artists of the Río de la Plata area) and by the Antorchas Foundation (contemporary Argentine painting).