Museum of Colonial Art of Bogotá

The Bogotá Colonial Museum was inaugurated on August 6, 1942 under the government of Eduardo Santos Montejo and his Minister of Education Germán Arciniegas. Its headquarters is the old Casa de las Aulas, a building from the XVII century that was the headquarters of the Colegio Máximo de la Compañía de Jesús, today Javeriana University and Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé de Bogotá.

Collections

The pieces initially exhibited in the Colonial Museum came mostly from the private collections owned by Bogotá high society in the first half of the century XX. These collections had been formed due to the process of confiscation of ecclesiastical assets initiated by Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera around 1861. The paintings expropriated from the Church passed into the hands of individuals and some of these in turn were given to different museums as a donation.

These initial collections have been gradually complemented with new works received by donation or acquired. Currently the museum has 1,577 pieces, among which you can find easel painting, textiles, sculpture, furniture, silverware, numismatics, prints and manuscripts.

It should be noted that the museum houses the largest existing collection of works by the New Granada colonial painter Gregorio Vásquez de Arce y Ceballos, including easel paintings and a complete series of drawings attributed to him.

History

The Colonial Museum is located in the old Cloister of the Classrooms, built at the beginning of the XVII century based on the design by Juan Bautista Coluccini, S.J. The building was initially the headquarters of the Colegio Máximo de la Compañía de Jesús and since the first half of the XVIII century of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. After the expulsion of the Society of Jesus in 1767, the Cloister had multiple uses. The Congress of the Republic met here in its first years, it was a Military Barracks, headquarters of the National Museum of Colombia, the National Library and, finally, headquarters of the Museum of Colonial Art since August 6, 1942, the date it was inaugurated. under the presidency of Eduardo Santos, with Germán Arciniegas being Minister of Education.

Some of the historical facts related to the building that houses the Colonial Museum, denote the value of the “Casa de las Aulas” as a center of national life. Among other events that occurred there we can count: The inauguration of Antonio Nariño as president before the city council in 1812, having served as a prison for Francisco de Paula Santander after the conspiracy against Bolívar in 1828, having hosted the installation of Congress Admirable in 1830 presided over by Simón Bolívar and finally having served as the premiere venue for the Colombian national anthem, performed for the first time in the so-called “Indian Chapel” on December 6, 1887.

Chronology

1604 On September 27, the Jesuit College opens. Father Dadey makes the presentation in front of the Audience of the Cabildos and the most notable of Santa Fe society.

1605 On October 18, the act of erection and foundation of the Seminary College was signed. It begins to operate in what is now the San Carlos palace.

1620 On September 5, a Royal Decree authorizes the Jesuits to grant the degrees.

1622 The Javeriana Academy is founded.

1634 The Neogranadino Government recognizes the Javeriana Academy.

1702 On May 27 comes the news of an exaltation of the Academy to Javeriana University.

1761 On Saturday, December 25, an image of Our Lady of Light is placed in painting with a silver frame, donated by the Viceroy Don José Solís Folch de Cardona.

1767 On September 23, the Jesuits are expelled. The notary José Roxas, the judges Verástegui and Moreno and Escandón draw up the inventories of the expropriated assets.

1812 On October 23 at eight in the morning, Don Antonio Nariño takes office as President Dictator before the Cabildo.

1813 On January 9, General Francisco de Paula Santander falls prisoner in the battle of San Victorino and is confined in the Casa de las Aulas.

1823 On December 25, the Casa de las Aulas is dedicated to the National Public Library.

1824 On July 4, the Museum of Natural History opens to the public, inaugurated by the vice president, General Francisco de Paula Santander. Likewise, classes begin at the School of Natural Sciences.

1828 General Francisco de Paula Santander, former vice president, is held prisoner after the conspiracy against Bolívar.

1830 On January 20, the Admirable Congress is installed, with words of the Liberator Simón Bolívar, electing Antonio José de Sucre, Grand Marshal of Ayacucho, as President and José María Estévez, Bishop of Santa Marta, as Vice President.

1830 On April 29, the Admirable Congress issues the constitutional charter.

1831 On September 25, the National Convention meets in the Military Chapel.

1832 José María Obando orders that the Public Library be transferred to the University.

1842 The Chapel becomes the Hall for University Degrees, Court Hearings and other public events, while continuing to be the headquarters of the National Assembly.

1851 The Library suffers damage as a result of the Revolution.

1854 On April 17 and until June 21, 1885, the Casa de las Aulas was converted into General Headquarters.

1856 Don José Jerónimo Triana delivers his Herbarium to the Museum of Natural History. The Library logo appears.

1871 The Museum is evacuated and its elements piled up in the rooms of the Library, which has suffered serious deterioration due to the excavations carried out in search of treasures.

1887 On December 6, the national anthem of Colombia is released.

1942 On August 6, the Museum of Colonial Art opens

News

During the first decade of the XXI century, the Colonial Museum entered a process of transformation that seeks to communicate to the visiting public the cultural processes that occurred between the 16th and 18th centuries. In this context, there has been a museological renovation that encompasses both its administrative organization and new curatorial and museographic approaches, which make visible the memory of colonialism in Colombia. For almost 3 years, the Museum was closed to the public in preparation for the structural renovation of the Classroom Cloister. On August 3, 2017, it reopened its doors with a new curatorial and museographic script.