Museo de Arte de Ponce facts for kids
Exterior view of the museum
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| Established | 1959 |
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| Location | 2325 Avenida Las Américas, Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Type | Art museum |
| Accreditation | American Alliance of Museums |
| Key holdings | -Flaming June -The Last Sleep of Arthur in Avalon |
| Collections | Baroque Pre-Raphaelite Golden Age Latin American art Puerto Rican art |
| Collection size | 4,500 pieces (2010) |
| Visitors | 90,000 (2010) |
| Architect | Edward Durell Stone |
| Owner | Private: Fundación Luis A. Ferré, Inc. |
| Public transit access | SITRAS, "Linea Anaranjada" (Orange Line): Buses E, F, G (Museo stop) |
The Museo de Arte de Ponce (MAP) is an amazing art museum in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It's home to a huge collection of European art. You can also see incredible works by Puerto Rican artists here.
This museum has one of the most important collections of Pre-Raphaelite art in the Western Hemisphere. It holds about 4,500 pieces of art. These are displayed in fourteen different galleries.
Many people say the Museo de Arte de Ponce is the best art museum in Puerto Rico. It's also the largest art museum in the Caribbean. It was the first museum in Puerto Rico to be approved by the American Alliance of Museums.
The museum was started in 1959 by Luis A. Ferré. He was a successful businessman and a generous person. The museum first opened in the Ponce Historic Zone. In 1965, it moved to its current building on Avenida Las Américas. In 2010, the museum became much bigger after a $30 million expansion!
Contents
Discovering the Museum's History
The idea for the museum began in 1956. That's when Luis A. Ferré traveled to Europe. He bought many European art pieces, including several Pre-Raphaelite works. This inspired him to create a museum in Ponce, his hometown.
Ferré got advice from two experts: Julius S. Held and René Taylor. They helped him choose art based on its value, not just its popularity. Ferré once said that critics thought he was "crazy to buy them."
On January 3, 1959, Ferré opened the museum. It was in a house on Cristina Street in Ponce. The first exhibit had 72 artworks. Some of these original paintings are still on display today.
Over time, the museum became very popular. More artworks were added to its collections. In 1962, the Samuel H. Kress Foundation gave 15 paintings to the museum. By 1989, the museum had 500 pieces of art.
Building the New Home for Art
Ferré worried that a fire might destroy the art in the old building. So, he bought land on Las Americas Avenue in Ponce. He hired the famous architect Edward Durell Stone to design a new museum.
Construction began on April 23, 1964. The new museum was finished in 1965. It officially opened on December 28, 1965.
One cool thing about the museum is its hexagonal (six-sided) galleries. These shapes let natural light come in through the corners. This helps light up the art beautifully. The museum has 14 galleries, two gardens, and an amphitheater. Its main entrance has cool split staircases.
A large aluminum sculpture called Pinceladas en Vuelo (which means "Brushstrokes in Flight") sits in front of the museum. It was made in 1984 by Roy Lichtenstein. It's 28 feet tall!
Modern Updates and Expansion
The museum was closed from 2008 to 2010 for big renovations. It reopened just in time for its 50th anniversary on November 13, 2010. These improvements cost $30 million!
While the museum was closed, it held exhibits in San Juan. It also loaned some of its best pieces to other museums around the world.
The renovation made the museum more than 40% bigger. It added a new building for a historical archive and a library. This new part of the museum is about 37,745 square feet. It includes educational spaces, an art history library, and a lab to help preserve artworks. There's also a storage area for art, a museum shop, a restaurant, and offices. After the expansion, the museum is now 77,745 square feet in total.
The road where the museum is located was renamed "Luis A. Ferré Boulevard." This was done to honor the museum's founder. In 2021, the museum received the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. This is a big award for museums and libraries.
Amazing Artworks to Explore
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The Museo de Arte de Ponce has one of the most important collections of European art in Latin America. The Financial Times newspaper says it has "one of the most distinguished private collections in the Western Hemisphere outside the United States."
The museum has almost 4,000 pieces of art. These artworks range from the 14th to the 20th century. You can see Italian Baroque art, British Pre-Raphaelite art, Spanish Golden Age art, and modern Latin-American art.
Some famous artists whose works are shown here include Peter Paul Rubens, Lucas Cranach, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Eugène Delacroix, and Sir Edward Burne-Jones.
Masterpieces of the Collection
The most famous painting at the museum is Flaming June. It was painted by Frederic Leighton. Luis A. Ferré bought this painting for less than $1,000 in 1960. It was his favorite piece.
Another major artwork is The Last Sleep of Arthur in Avalon. This was the final and greatest work by Sir Edward Burne-Jones. Ferré bought this huge painting in 1963. The artist started it in 1881 but never finished it before he died in 1898.
In 2009, both Flaming June and The Last Sleep of Arthur in Avalon were loaned to Tate Britain in London. This happened while the museum in Ponce was being renovated. Other paintings were loaned to the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain.
Puerto Rican and International Art
The museum also has a very important collection of Puerto Rican art. This art ranges from the 18th century to today. It includes works by great masters like José Campeche, Francisco Oller, and Miguel Pou. You can also see art by modern talents like Myrna Báez, Francisco Rodón, Antonio Martorell, and Arnaldo Roche Rabell.
The museum also shows works by artists from other countries. For example, in March 2006, the museum showed art by the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
There is a small fee to enter the museum. However, most of its money comes from generous donations. These donations come from people and businesses in Puerto Rico. Some people donate money just to buy new art for the museum. Others donate to help with the museum's daily costs. A special bronze plaque at the entrance thanks these donors.
Selected Collection Highlights
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The Garden Court by Edward Burne-Jones
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Antonio de Pereda
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Matías de Arteaga y Alfaro
See also
In Spanish: Museo de Arte de Ponce para niños
