Eduardo Sívori Museum
Encyclopedia
The Eduardo Sívori Museum (Museo de Artes Plásticas Eduardo Sívori) is a municipal art museum in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
) in 1933, the institution was inaugurated in 1938 as the "Municipal Museum of Fine Arts, Applied Art
, and Comparative Art." The museum became the venue for the annual municipal art salon, first held in 1936.
The museum was originally housed in the City Council Building
. Its second director, Carlos Abregú Virreira, drew from his rustic, Santiago del Estero Province
background to augment the museum's collection with works from the Argentine Northwest
during his 1943-51 tenure. The museum was renamed in 1946 for the "portaiteur of the pampas," the late Realist painter Eduardo Sívori
; Sívori had founded the first artisan guild
in Argentina, the Society for the Promotion of Fine Arts, and was the first President of the National Academy of Fine Arts.
The installation of the Eva Perón Foundation
in the City Council Building led to the museum's 1952 relocation to an Avenida del Libertador
house which had belonged to a patron of traditional Argentine art, Félix Bunge (1894-1935). Its relocation involved the transfer of some 130 works, however, to other institutions and over the objection to the Sívori Museum authorities. The event, moreover, began an era of impermanence and uncertainty for the museum. The establishment of one of these recipients of this transfer, the José Hernandez Museum, in 1955, and the Bunge house's designation as its site led to the Sívori's move to a Retiro
neighborhood mansion. The ongoing, northward expansion of Ninth of July Avenue
forced yet another relocation, to the new San Martín Cultural Center
, in 1961. It was merged with the Buenos Aires Museum of Modern Art
between 1975 and 1977 as the Municipal Museum of Visual Arts, and did not regain its administrative autonomy until 1982; its collections continued to grow through acquisitions, as well as private donations and bequethals.
A 1995 initiative by Mayor Jorge Domínguez resulted in a permanent home for the museum, the former El Hostal del Ciervo Café facing the Parque Tres de Febrero
rose garden. The Norman
-styled building, built in 1912, was refurbished with a modern annex housing two wings, and inaugurated on August 4, 1996. The 4,000 m² (43,000 ft²) museum, directed since its reinaugural by María Isabel de Larrañaga (the daughter of an Argentine painter, Enrique de Larrañaga (1900-1956)), maintains over 4,000 works; among the Argentine artists represented are Líbero Badii, Cesáreo Bernaldo de Quirós
, Antonio Berni
, Pío Collivadino
, Lucio Correa Morales, Pedro Figari
(Uruguay
), Antonio Pujía
, Guillermo Roux
, Lino Enea Spilimbergo
, Rogelio Yrurtia
, and its namesake, Eduardo Sívori. The permanent exhibit halls are complemented by one for temporary displays, an art library, restoration workshop, and the Ivelyse Gordon de Grimaldi Sculpture Garden.
The museum's finances suffered during the Argentine economic crisis, and numerous works were put at auction from 2000 to 2004 by the Friends of the Sívori Museum Association; one work, by Expressionist painter Rómulo Macció
, was auctioned at a reported one-twentieth of its market value. Expanding its schedule of educational events with the subsequent improvement in its finances, the museum continues to host the annual Manuel Belgrano
salon.
Overview
Founded on the initiative of city councilman Fernando Ghio, who proposed the creation of a municipal museum devoted to Argentine artists (as a more specialized counterpart of the National Museum of Fine ArtsMuseo Nacional de Bellas Artes (Buenos Aires)
The National Museum of Fine Arts is an Argentine art museum in Buenos Aires, located in the Recoleta section of the city. The MNBA inaugurated a branch in Neuquén in 2004.-History:...
) in 1933, the institution was inaugurated in 1938 as the "Municipal Museum of Fine Arts, Applied Art
Applied art
Applied art is the application of design and aesthetics to objects of function and everyday use. Whereas fine arts serve as intellectual stimulation to the viewer or academic sensibilities, the applied arts incorporate design and creative ideals to objects of utility, such as a cup, magazine or...
, and Comparative Art." The museum became the venue for the annual municipal art salon, first held in 1936.
Buenos Aires City Legislature
The Buenos Aires City Legislature is a central part of the Government of the City of Buenos Aires, as well as an architectural landmark in the city's Montserrat section.-History:...
. Its second director, Carlos Abregú Virreira, drew from his rustic, Santiago del Estero Province
Santiago del Estero Province
Santiago del Estero is a province of Argentina, located in the north of the country. Neighbouring provinces are from the north clockwise Salta, Chaco, Santa Fe, Córdoba, Catamarca and Tucumán.-History:...
background to augment the museum's collection with works from the Argentine Northwest
Argentine Northwest
The Argentine Northwest is a region of Argentina composed by the provinces of Catamarca, Jujuy, Salta, Santiago del Estero and Tucumán.-Geography:The region had 5 different biomes:* Sub-Andean humid Sierras of the east...
during his 1943-51 tenure. The museum was renamed in 1946 for the "portaiteur of the pampas," the late Realist painter Eduardo Sívori
Eduardo Sívori
Eduardo Sívori was an Argentine artist widely regarded as his country's first realist painter.-Life and work:...
; Sívori had founded the first artisan guild
Guild
A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...
in Argentina, the Society for the Promotion of Fine Arts, and was the first President of the National Academy of Fine Arts.
The installation of the Eva Perón Foundation
Eva Perón Foundation
The Eva Perón Foundation was a charitable foundation begun by Eva Perón, a prominent Argentine political leader, when she was the First Lady and Spiritual Leader of the Nation of Argentina. It operated from 1948 to 1955...
in the City Council Building led to the museum's 1952 relocation to an Avenida del Libertador
Avenida del Libertador
Avenida del Libertador is one of the principal thoroughfares in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and in points north, extending 25 km from the Retiro District of Buenos Aires to the northern suburb of San Fernando.-History:...
house which had belonged to a patron of traditional Argentine art, Félix Bunge (1894-1935). Its relocation involved the transfer of some 130 works, however, to other institutions and over the objection to the Sívori Museum authorities. The event, moreover, began an era of impermanence and uncertainty for the museum. The establishment of one of these recipients of this transfer, the José Hernandez Museum, in 1955, and the Bunge house's designation as its site led to the Sívori's move to a Retiro
Retiro, Buenos Aires
Retiro is a barrio in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Located in the northeast end of the city, Retiro is bordered on the south by the Puerto Madero and San Nicolás wards, and on the west by the Recoleta ward.-Urban character:...
neighborhood mansion. The ongoing, northward expansion of Ninth of July Avenue
9 de Julio Avenue
Avenida 9 de Julio is a wide avenue in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Its name honors Argentina's Independence Day, July 9, 1816.The avenue runs roughly one kilometer to the west of the Río de la Plata waterfront, from the Retiro district in the north to Constitución station in the south...
forced yet another relocation, to the new San Martín Cultural Center
Centro Cultural General San Martín
The General San Martín Cultural Centre is a cultural centre located in Buenos Aires, Argentina near the major thoroughfare Corrientes Avenue.It is run by the city government, and hosts diverse cultural and artistic events...
, in 1961. It was merged with the Buenos Aires Museum of Modern Art
Buenos Aires Museum of Modern Art
The Buenos Aires Museum of Modern Art known locally as the Museo de Arte Moderno de Buenos Aires or MAMBA is a modern art museum located in Buenos Aires, Argentina....
between 1975 and 1977 as the Municipal Museum of Visual Arts, and did not regain its administrative autonomy until 1982; its collections continued to grow through acquisitions, as well as private donations and bequethals.
A 1995 initiative by Mayor Jorge Domínguez resulted in a permanent home for the museum, the former El Hostal del Ciervo Café facing the Parque Tres de Febrero
Parque Tres de febrero
Parque Tres de Febrero, also known as the Bosques de Palermo , is a city park of 25 hectares located in the neighborhood of Palermo in Buenos Aires, Argentina...
rose garden. The Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
-styled building, built in 1912, was refurbished with a modern annex housing two wings, and inaugurated on August 4, 1996. The 4,000 m² (43,000 ft²) museum, directed since its reinaugural by María Isabel de Larrañaga (the daughter of an Argentine painter, Enrique de Larrañaga (1900-1956)), maintains over 4,000 works; among the Argentine artists represented are Líbero Badii, Cesáreo Bernaldo de Quirós
Cesáreo Bernaldo de Quirós
Cesáreo Bernaldo de Quirós was an Argentine painter of the post-impressionist school.- Life and work :De Quirós was born in Gualeguay, Entre Ríos Province, in 1879. He began to paint at age eight, and shortly afterwards, created a facial composite sketch that resulted in a fugitive criminal's...
, Antonio Berni
Antonio Berni
Delesio Antonio Berni was a figurative artist, born in Rosario, province of Santa Fe, Argentina. He worked as a painter, an illustrator and an engraver. His father, Napoleón Berni, was an immigrant tailor from Italy...
, Pío Collivadino
Pío Collivadino
Pío Collivadino was an Argentine painter of the post-impressionist school.-Life and work:Pío Collivadino was born in Buenos Aires, in 1869...
, Lucio Correa Morales, Pedro Figari
Pedro Figari
Pedro Figari was a Uruguayan painter, lawyer, writer, and politician. Although he did not begin the practice until his later years, he is best known as an early modernist painter who emphasized capturing the every-day aspects of life in his work...
(Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
), Antonio Pujía
Antonio Pujía
Antonio Pujía is a well-known Argentine sculptor.-Life and work:Antonio Pujía was born in Polia, a small town in the Calabria region of Italy, in 1929, and relocated to Buenos Aires with his mother in 1937...
, Guillermo Roux
Guillermo Roux
Guillermo Roux is an Argentine painter known for his watercolors, collages and frescoes.Roux was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and his father, Raúl Roux, was a well-known Uruguayan painter. He studied in the Buenos Aires School of Fine Arts until 1948, and in 1956 he travelled to Rome...
, Lino Enea Spilimbergo
Lino Enea Spilimbergo
Lino Enea Spilimbergo was an Argentine artist and engraver, and he is considered to be one of the country's most important painters....
, Rogelio Yrurtia
Rogelio Yrurtia
Rogelio Yrurtia was a renowned Argentine sculptor of the Realist school.-Life and work:Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina to Basque immigrants in 1879, Rogelio Yrurtia enrolled in the local Society for the Promotion of Fine Arts in 1899. A talented student, he quickly earned a scholarship on which...
, and its namesake, Eduardo Sívori. The permanent exhibit halls are complemented by one for temporary displays, an art library, restoration workshop, and the Ivelyse Gordon de Grimaldi Sculpture Garden.
The museum's finances suffered during the Argentine economic crisis, and numerous works were put at auction from 2000 to 2004 by the Friends of the Sívori Museum Association; one work, by Expressionist painter Rómulo Macció
Romulo Macció
Romulo Macció is an Argentine painter associated with the local avant-garde art movement that took shape in the 1960s.-Life and work:...
, was auctioned at a reported one-twentieth of its market value. Expanding its schedule of educational events with the subsequent improvement in its finances, the museum continues to host the annual Manuel Belgrano
Manuel Belgrano
Manuel José Joaquín del Corazón de Jesús Belgrano , usually referred to as Manuel Belgrano, was an Argentine economist, lawyer, politician, and military leader. He took part in the Argentine Wars of Independence and created the Flag of Argentina...
salon.