Museo de Arte Colonial (Colonial Art Museum), Bogota

The Colonial Art Museum of Bogota, inaugurated on August 6, 1942, is a cornerstone of Colombia’s cultural and historical heritage. The museum is housed in the historic Casa de las Aulas, a 17th-century building designed by Juan Bautista Coluccini. Originally the site of the Colegio Máximo, it later became the Pontifical Javeriana University and the San Bartolome High School. Over the centuries, the building has played a significant role in Colombian history, hosting events like Antonio Nariño’s presidential inauguration in 1812 and the first performance of the Colombian national anthem in 1887.

The museum’s origins are deeply tied to Bogota’s high society of the early 20th century, with its initial collection comprising works expropriated from ecclesiastical institutions during the mid-19th century reforms led by Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera. Many of these works passed through private hands before being donated to the museum. Over time, the collection has expanded to include 1,577 pieces, featuring a diverse array of easel paintings, textiles, sculptures, furniture, silverware, numismatics, prints, and manuscripts.

One of the museum’s highlights is its extensive collection of works by Gregorio Vasquez de Arce y Ceballos, a prominent New Granada colonial painter. The museum showcases a wide range of his easel paintings and an entire series of drawings attributed to him.

In addition to its impressive collection, the Colonial Museum underwent a major transformation in the early 21st century to enhance its role as a center for understanding the cultural and historical processes of the 16th to 18th centuries. After nearly three years of renovations, the museum reopened on August 3, 2017, with updated exhibitions highlighting Colombia's colonial legacy.

Today, the Colonial Art Museum stands as a testament to Colombia’s complex history, blending art, culture, and historical narratives within the walls of one of Bogota’s most iconic architectural treasures.