Durazno Art Museum

		MORE OUTINGS IN Durazno

Marcelo Sola

The hundred-year-old estate where the House of Culture and the Art Museum of Durazno are located was built in the 1870's to be used as a residence by Italian immigrant Dr. Emilio Penza Spinelli. This significant dweller was the president of the Commemorative Acts Committee of the IV Hundred Anniversary of the Discovery of America, which fostered the construction of the monument in honor of Cristóbal Colón.

Later on, the famous residence built up a rich educational background in the XX century, as it housed the Public Lyceum and the Teachers’ College, where hundreds of teachers were trained. With the passing of time, the building experienced an accentuated deterioration process, but in 2000 the restoration works began by order of the local mayor and the House of Culture and Art was installed there.

Inside one of its rooms, remarkable and varied works made by well-known artist Claudio Silveira Silva are displayed. The work of this famous painter, engraver and sculptor is closely related to Durazno. The exceptional collection of his sculptures represents a unique show in its genre in the entire country.

Claudio's artistic legacy includes the “Farruco Virgin” and the retable called “The pasture black boy”- two of his most important works inspired in the region.

The other room in the museum is open to display several temporary shows by local artists.

Today, the building housing these artistic expressions has been declared Historical Monument of the Department. It is worth a visit.