Museo de Bellas Artes

The Museo de Bellas Artes (Museum of Fine Arts) in Seville was founded as a Museum of paintings, by a Royal Decree on September 16, 1835, with works from convents and monasteries confiscated by the liberal government of Mendizábal. It is located in the square of the same name, occupying the old Convent of La Merced Calzada founded on land ceded by Fernando III after conquering Seville.

Today’s building owes its appearance to the transformations carried out in the first decades of the seventeenth century thanks to the impulse of Fray Alonso de Monroy, general of the Order since 1602. The architect and sculptor Juan de Oviedo y de la Bandera presented the plans and instructions for the construction in 1603, which began with the demolition of the old Mudejar building. In 1612 the temple was completed and almost half a century later the rest of the factory, thus creating one of the most beautiful examples of Andalusian mannerism.

Since its founding as a museum, the building has undergone three major interventions. The first, was between 1868 and 1898, with the restoration of the arches and walls of the first floor, the flooring of the cloisters, and their tiling with tiles from confiscated convents.

The second, was between 1942 and 1945, with the opening of the Patio de las Conchas in the space of the old sacristy and the transfer of the main façade of the old Baroque façade to Bailén Street. The third, begun in 1987 and culminated in 1993, was developed in several phases to achieve a total rehabilitation of the building and its adaptation to the multiple demands of modern museums.