Fine Arts Museum of Asturias

The Museum of Fine Arts of Asturias (Spanish: Museo de Bellas Artes de Asturias; Asturian: Muséu de Belles Artes d'Asturies) is an art museum located in Oviedo, Spain. It is the most important art museum in the Asturias region and ranks among Spain's most significant provincial art galleries. The institution opened its doors on 19 May 1980, drawing from historical art collections assembled by provincial bodies as early as 1844. Today, the museum's holdings have grown to more than 15,000 works spanning from the 14th century to the present, encompassing paintings, sculptures, works on paper, photographs, and industrial arts.

The museum's origins trace back to 13 June 1844, when a Royal Decree established the Comisión Provincial de Monumentos Históricos y Artísticos. Later, the Museo de la Academia Provincial de Bellas Artes de San Salvador was founded in 1889. The art collection of the extinct Diputación Provincial eventually absorbed these earlier collections, forming the basis of the museum's initial 350 works upon its inauguration on 19 May 1980. Key figures in rescuing and cataloging these lost or forgotten works for the museum included Emilio Marcos Vallaure and Toto Castañón. The collection has since expanded significantly through acquisitions, donations, legacies, deposits, and endowments, notably the Pedro Masaveu Collection, which was transferred to the Government of the Principado de Asturias in 1994 to settle an inheritance tax debt and deposited in the museum in 1996. In 2017, the collection was further enriched by 33 important works donated by Plácido Arango Arias.

The permanent collection features masterworks by El Greco, including one of only three existing complete apostolates, known as the Apostolado de San Feliz or Apostolado de Oviedo. Spanish Baroque painting is represented by José de Ribera, Zurbarán, Murillo, and Juan de Valdés Leal, alongside Renaissance pieces by Berruguete and Tiziano. Goya's portraits of Jovellanos and Carlos IV are notable, as are 20th century works by Picasso, Dalí, Miró, and Tàpies. The museum also holds pieces by prominent women artists such as Sofonisba Anguissola, Angelica Kauffmann, and María Blanchard. The Asturian school is prominently featured with artists like Juan Carreño de Miranda, Evaristo Valle, Nicanor Piñole, and the Meléndez family. The industrial arts section includes opalines and the iconic cider bottle from the Gijón factory La Industria, and earthenware from La Asturiana and the Real Fábrica de Sargadelos.

The museum occupies three interconnected buildings in the historic center of Oviedo. The Palacio de Velarde, an 18th century Baroque palace designed by architect Manuel Reguera in 1765, serves as a primary exhibition space. It connects to the Casa de Oviedo-Portal, a 17th century structure built by Melchor de Velasco around 1660. A modern extension building, designed by Navarrese architect Francisco Beloqui Mangado, was inaugurated in 2015 after eight years of renovations interrupted by the discovery of Roman and medieval remains. This expansion doubled the museum's total surface area from 4,000 to nearly 8,000 square meters, providing more than 4,500 square meters of exhibition space. The modern wing features a striking glass facade and has given the museum a new frontage facing the Plaza de la Catedral de Oviedo.

The Museum of Fine Arts of Asturias is located at Calle Santa Ana and Calle Cimadevilla in Oviedo. It operates under the funding and oversight of the Culture Department of the Principality of Asturias and the City of Oviedo. Admission to the museum is free. In addition to its permanent displays, the institution hosts temporary exhibitions, film cycles, and educational workshops. The museum is typically closed on Mondays, and visitors are advised to check the official website for current opening hours and seasonal schedules.