Gijón - Altarpiece of the Sea in the Casa Natal de Jovellanos Museum

Altarpiece of the Sea of ​​Sebastián Looking at the Jovellanos de Gijón museum

On your walk through thehistoric neighborhood of Cimavilla, in Gijón, there is a corner that will catch your attention.

It is the palace of the late sixteenth century that is currently the headquarters of the Birthplace of Jovellanos Museum, the first museum that opened in the city.

Indeed, the jurist and politician illustrated at the end of the 18th century, Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, born in Gijón, is one of the main historical figures linked to the Asturian city.

Jovellanos Birthplace Museum in Gijón

This palatial building was his hometown, which was opened to the public in 1971 with a museum that houses the artistic collection of the municipality of Gijón and where a program for the dissemination and study of the figure of Jovellanos.

During your visit of Jovellanos de Gijón museum you will see a great sample of paintings and sculptures by Asturian artists from the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, as well as works by European artists of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

You can also see two rooms where objects, furniture and works of art that belonged to Jovellanos are presented.

Altarpiece of the Sea by Sebastián Miranda at the Jovellanos de Gijón museum

Altarpiece of the Sea

Now, I point out that what is really worth visiting this museum is for having the opportunity to enjoy the impressive work of Sebastian Miranda known as the Altarpiece of the Sea.

It is a large polychrome wood carving, the most important work of the prestigious Asturian sculptor, which he made at the beginning of the 30s of the last century.

This great sculptural work shows a scene from the fish market Cimavilla neighborhood, where an auction is taking place.

It is a collective portrait in which at the bottom there are figures that represent the fishermen and the shippers of fish, and on the upper floor the buyers appear.

Paintings in the Jovellanos de Gijón museum

When you stand before him Altarpiece of the Sea, do not forget to look at each group of figures, and even in the detail of each character, with its expressiveness. In sum, one Essential visit on your walk in Gijón.

As a curiosity I will tell you that the original work was destroyed during the Civil war, although the sculptor had the original plaster. In 1971 the Gijón Town Hall commissioned the artist to rebuild the work again to be part of the new museum.

The Visiting hours of the Casa Natal de Jovellanos Museum in Gijón they are, from Tuesday to Friday, from 9.20 to 14 hours, and from 17 to 19.30 hours; and Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 10 am to 2 pm, and from 5 pm to 7.30 pm. The admission is free.

Photos Jovellanos Museum

Here you have more Photos of the Jovellanos Museum in Gijón.