Museo de Arte Hispanoamericano Isaac Fernández Blanco

In Buenos Aires’s Retiro district, the Museo de Arte Hispanoamericano Isaac Fernández Blanco displays colonial Latin American art inside Palacio Noel, a Spanish-American neo-colonial building. Its collection includes paintings from the Cusco School, religious works, silverware, furniture and string instruments. The museum began with Isaac Fernández Blanco’s private collection, which he started assembling in 1882. After opening in 1921 in his family home, it moved to Palacio Noel in 1943. Set aside about an hour to see the exhibits and the Andalusian garden courtyard.

A private collection becomes a museum

Isaac Fernández Blanco began collecting Spanish and Latin American art in 1882. An engineer by profession, he was also an avid violin enthusiast, and string instruments formed an important part of his collection. His interests expanded to include Peruvian art, especially works associated with the Cusco School.

The museum opened in 1921 in the family home. In 1943, it moved to Palacio Noel, a residence built in 1920 for architect Martín Noel. Noel and Fernández Blanco donated much of the material now on display.

Art and objects from the colonial period

The collection includes Spanish American art from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Paintings, silver objects, religious wood carvings and inlaid furniture give the displays a range beyond canvases alone. String instruments also connect the museum’s holdings to Fernández Blanco’s original collecting interests.

Palacio Noel’s neo-colonial design provides the setting for these works. The garden courtyard has Andalusian character and offers a quiet pause between the galleries. English-language guided tours can be arranged by calling ahead.