Museum of the Estate of Heaven, Rio de Janeiro
Situated in the historic Santa Teresa neighborhood, the Museum of the Estate of Heaven (Chácara do Céu Museum), located in Rio de Janeiro, forms a part of the Castro Maya Museums. This institution was established by Raymundo Ottoni de Castro Maya, a businessman and art enthusiast.
The museum's current site was once a regular residence of Castro Maya and was referred to as Chácara do Céu (Heaven's Farm) since the late 19th century. The term "chácara" denotes the gardens surrounding it and its elevated position atop Morro de Santa Teresa, offering stunning views of Guanabara Bay.
Architecturally, it's characterized by a modernist-cubist style, featuring clean lines, spacious well-lit spaces that emphasize outward views, and expansive gardens. The property underwent renovation in 1954, overseen by architect Wladimir Alves de Souza.
The Museum of the Estate of Heaven houses a noteworthy art collection amassed over many years by Raymundo de Castro Maya and his father, with a significant portion acquired during their numerous trips to France. The artworks are categorized into three main groups: European Art, Brazilian Art, and the Brazilian Collection.
The European Art Collection boasts paintings, drawings, and prints by renowned European artists such as Matisse, Modigliani, Degas, Seurat, and Miró.
The Brazilian Art Collection comprises works by modern artists like Guignard, Di Cavalcanti, Iberê Camargo, Antonio Bandeira, and Portinari, and it stands as the largest collection of works by the latter.
Lastly, the Brazilian Collection showcases an extensive selection of 17th and 18th-century maps, accompanied by oil paintings, watercolors, drawings, and engravings by notable figures like Rugendas, Chamberlain, Taunay, and Jean-Baptiste Debret.
Within the museum, one can also find the Castro Maya Library, which houses a significant collection of nearly 8,000 volumes of Brazilian and European art and literature books, as well as publications and articles by prominent 19th-century travelers.
The museum's current site was once a regular residence of Castro Maya and was referred to as Chácara do Céu (Heaven's Farm) since the late 19th century. The term "chácara" denotes the gardens surrounding it and its elevated position atop Morro de Santa Teresa, offering stunning views of Guanabara Bay.
Architecturally, it's characterized by a modernist-cubist style, featuring clean lines, spacious well-lit spaces that emphasize outward views, and expansive gardens. The property underwent renovation in 1954, overseen by architect Wladimir Alves de Souza.
The Museum of the Estate of Heaven houses a noteworthy art collection amassed over many years by Raymundo de Castro Maya and his father, with a significant portion acquired during their numerous trips to France. The artworks are categorized into three main groups: European Art, Brazilian Art, and the Brazilian Collection.
The European Art Collection boasts paintings, drawings, and prints by renowned European artists such as Matisse, Modigliani, Degas, Seurat, and Miró.
The Brazilian Art Collection comprises works by modern artists like Guignard, Di Cavalcanti, Iberê Camargo, Antonio Bandeira, and Portinari, and it stands as the largest collection of works by the latter.
Lastly, the Brazilian Collection showcases an extensive selection of 17th and 18th-century maps, accompanied by oil paintings, watercolors, drawings, and engravings by notable figures like Rugendas, Chamberlain, Taunay, and Jean-Baptiste Debret.
Within the museum, one can also find the Castro Maya Library, which houses a significant collection of nearly 8,000 volumes of Brazilian and European art and literature books, as well as publications and articles by prominent 19th-century travelers.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Rio de Janeiro. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Museum of the Estate of Heaven on Map
Sight Name: Museum of the Estate of Heaven
Sight Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (See walking tours in Rio de Janeiro)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Sight Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (See walking tours in Rio de Janeiro)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
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