Museo Juan Manuel Blanes Travel Guide

Located in the Prado neighborhood of Montevideo, the Museo Juan Manuel Blanes offers a journey through Uruguayan art history. The museum is housed in a Palladian villa, originally designed in 1870 by Juan Alberto Capurro for Juan Bautista Raffo. In 1929, the municipality acquired the villa and commissioned architect Eugenio Baroffio to renovate and expand the building, maintaining its eclectic facade. The museum was founded in 1930, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Uruguay's first Constitution, and named after the celebrated Uruguayan artist, Juan Manuel Blanes.The museum's collection includes works by Juan Manuel Blanes, Pedro Figari, Rafael Barradas, José Cúneo, and Carlos González, representing the best of Uruguayan art. Blanes was an accomplished portraitist and landscape artist, achieving fame with his "social" painting, "Episode of Yellow Fever," in 1871. The museum also features sculptures by Uruguayan artists and, since 1940, has exhibited works awarded with the Premio Salón Municipal, showcasing contemporary art.The property features a large park with ancient trees along the Miguelete Creek. Behind the museum lies a Japanese Garden, donated in 2001 by Japanese Princess Sayako. The museum provides educational opportunities such as lectures, workshops, and tours.