Consider a house that is not just a building but a testament to artistic legacy. That’s the Museo Casa de Yrurtia. It stands here in Belgrano. It’s more than just a museum. It’s a time capsule. It encapsulates the lives and works of Rogelio Yrurtia and Lía Correa Morales.
In 1942 Rogelio Yrurtia and his wife Lía Correa Morales donated their home to the nation. This act of generosity ensured their artistic legacy would endure. By law 12.824 the house became a museum. It opened to the public on July 9 1949.
Rogelio Yrurtia was a prominent Argentine sculptor. Lía Correa Morales was a talented painter. They were a power couple in the early 20th-century Argentine art scene.
Rogelio Yrurtia entered the Escuela de la Sociedad Estímulo de Bellas Artes in 1898. There he studied under Lucio Correa Morales. In 1899 he secured a scholarship. This allowed him to study at the Academies Jullien and Colarossi in Paris. Yrurtia created notable monuments in Buenos Aires. These include Canto al Trabajo and the Monument to Colonel Manuel Dorrego. He also sculpted the Mausoleo de Bernardino Rivadavia.
Lía Correa Morales was a pioneer for women in the arts. She was the first female artist to gain recognition at the Salón Nacional. She won the Gran Premio in 1924 and 1928. Her art included female nudes. She also used gray tones in her portraits. After her husband’s death Lía directed the Museo Casa de Yrurtia. She protected the collections. She created inventories and photographic documentation.
The Museo Casa de Yrurtia resides in a late 19th-century house. The house occupies a 1200 square meter plot. The house won a Municipal Architecture Prize in 1923. This was due to its neo-colonial facade design.
Inside the Museo Casa de Yrurtia you will find diverse collections. These include sculptures and paintings. There are also bronze portraits. You can explore sketches and studies for Yrurtia’s major works. The museum also features paintings by Martín Malharro and Benito Quinquela Martín. You might even spot an early work by Pablo Picasso.
The museum displays rugs ceramics and household items. These objects hail from Europe and Asia. Furnishings reflect British Empire French and Flemish Renaissance styles.
Yrurtia’s artistic vision shaped the house. The building’s renovation and expansion were under his guidance. Architect K. A. Schmitt provided technical plans. Pedro Rossi oversaw the construction. Masonic symbols are visible both inside and outside. Yrurtia was a member of the Freemasons.
Today the Museo Casa de Yrurtia preserves the legacy of the Yrurtia-Correa Morales marriage. It connects cultural heritage with visitors. It encourages reflection on the past and present. The museum seeks to inspire appreciation for the couple’s contributions to the community.