Page 98 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

96  HA V ANA AREA B Y AREA

w Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes

The National Fine Arts Museum was founded on 23 February
1913 thanks to the efforts of the architect Emilio Heredia, its Palacio
first director. After frequent moves, the collections eventually de Bellas Artes
found a definitive home in the block once occupied by the PASEO DE MARTÍ (PRADO) EMPEDRADO
old Colón market. The original design was changed when ZULUETA AVENIDA DE LAS MISIONES
the arcades of the building were demolished and in 1954 the
new Palacio de Bellas Artes was inaugurated, a Rationalist (MONSERRATE)
building with purely geometric lines designed by the CENTRAL VILLEGAS
PARQUE
architect Rodríguez Pichardo. The museum is now divided Centro
between two buildings: the original palacio dedicated to Asturiano
Cuban art, and the Centro Asturiano, by the Parque Central, AGRAMONTE
dedicated to international art.
Locator Map
See Street Finder, p127, map 4

Sagrada Familia
The Holy Family by
the Spanish artist
Bartolomé Esteban
Murillo (1618–82), who
enjoyed great fame
during his lifetime, is a
Virgin and Child calm, meditative scene.
This triptych by Hans Memling (1433–94)
exemplifies the vivid style and masterful
spatial construction that made this
artist one of the great masters of
Flemish painting.

Centro Asturiano
European painting and
sculpture, together with the
collection of ancient art, are on
display in the Centro Asturiano,
designed in 1927 by the
architect Manuel del Busto.
. Panathenaean Amphora
This terracotta amphora in the black figure
style is one of the most important pieces in
the museum’s collection of ancient Greek vases,
which once belonged to the Count de Lagunillas.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp256–7 and p271

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