Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla

The Museum of Fine Arts of Seville (Spanish: Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla) is one of the main art galleries in Seville, Spain, with a collection of Spanish visual arts from the medieval period to the early 20th century. The collection includes a choice selection of works by artists from the Golden Age of Sevillian painting during the 17th century, such as Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Francisco de Zurbarán, and Valdés Leal. The main entrance faces the Plaza del Museo. Inside, the museum contains 14 galleries, three cloisters (claustro grande, claustro de los bojes, and claustro del aljibe), and a patio. History The building was originally built in 1594 to house the convent of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy , founded by St. Peter Nolasco during the reign of Ferdinand III . The provincial museum of Seville was established on September 16, 1835 and items were moved to the museum in the ensuing years. Extensive remodeling in the early 17th century was led by the architect Juan de Oviedo y de la Bandera. In 1941, the Archeological Museum of Seville relocated to the Fine Arts Pavilion of the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. Collection The origins of the collection lie in works originating from secularized convents and monasteries, which is why the bulk of the works consists of religious painting—primarily from the Sevillian Baroque period.