Seville Museum of Fine Arts

Interesting facts

1. 1

   The building was originally a monastery founded in 1248, later reconstructed in the 17th century by architect Juan de Oviedo.

2. 2

   A significant portion of the museum's collection originates from the ecclesiastical seizures of 1835, which forced the closure of many local convents.

3. 3

   The museum was officially established in 1839 as the 'Museo de Pinturas' following a decree by the Spanish government.

4. 4

   Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, a native of Seville, is the central figure of the museum's permanent collection.

5. 5

   The museum houses a notable collection of 19th-century costumbrista paintings, which depict regional Andalusian customs and daily life.

6. 6

   Several of the courtyards contain original orange trees and water features, typical of 17th-century monastic design.

7. 7

   The collection includes works by El Greco, Velázquez, and Goya, providing context for the local Sevillian masters.

8. 8

   The museum building underwent a major restoration in the 1980s to modernize its gallery infrastructure while preserving its baroque character.

Overview

The Seville Museum of Fine Arts is housed within the former Convento de la Merced Calzada, a 17th-century palace located in the heart of Seville. It holds the second most significant public art collection in Spain, trailing only the Prado in Madrid. The museum focuses primarily on Sevillian religious painting and sculpture from the medieval period through the early 20th century. Visitors explore galleries organized chronologically across two floors, surrounding two interior courtyards. The collection highlights the Golden Age of Spanish painting, specifically the works of Murillo, Zurbarán, and Valdés Leal. Several rooms are dedicated to the Baroque movement, featuring pieces salvaged from monasteries after the 1835 Mendizábal disentailment. The architecture retains original 17th-century features, including ornate tile work and the cloistered courtyards. It serves as the primary repository for local artistic heritage and the history of the Andalusian school.

Insider tips

• Focus on the ground floor first to follow the chronological development of Sevillian art.

• Look for the smaller, less-crowded side galleries if the main rooms are busy with school groups.

• Take time to sit in the central courtyards to appreciate the 17th-century architecture.