We have a guided visit to the picturesque Yrurtia Museum in Belgrano (O'Higgins and Blanco Encalada streets) on Thursday August 29 at 3pm, where we will see the work of the famous sculptor Rogelio Yrurtia and the beautiful paintings of his wife, Lía Correa Morales, besides the decoration of the colonial house and garden themselves. Morales was a talented painter who, when her husband passed away donated their home which is now a museum.
Spanish through Experience Meeting Notes
On August 29 a group of UWC members visited the Museo Casa de Yrurtia (O’Higgins 2390, in Belgrano). The guided tour began in the entryway of the beautifully preserved Spanish revival (neocolonial) style house. Shaké shared a lovely story about her childhood in the neighborhood. She recalled riding her scooter in front of the house, when the Argentine sculptor Rogelio Yrurtia and his wife, the painter Lía Correa Morales lived there, be- fore the house became a museum in 1949. Mariana, the enthusiastic and informative guide, informed us about the history of the artistic couple, who were integral to the development of early 20th century Argentine art. Yrurtia was from a very young age recognized for his talents; he studied in Paris, where he met and was influenced by one of the most famous sculptors of the time, Auguste Rodin. Yrurtia was the creator of several major monuments in Buenos Aires, including Canto al Trabajo (Ode to Work) at Av.Paseo Colón 800; the monument to Manuel Dorrego at Suipacha and Tucumán, the mausoleum of former president Bernardino Rivadavia in Plaza Miserere and La Justicia (Justice) in the central hall of the Palacio de Justicia.
Correa Morales was equally a formidable talent, and despite the restriction on women artists, she gained fame as a painter in various national and international exhibitions. Her themes were mostly focused on still lifes and nudes. The museum also has a collection of the works of their Argentine con- temporaries, and the guide provided a wonderful contextual discussion to better understand the art and artists during the early 20th century in Argentina. We enjoyed an excellent excursion going back 100 years in time, a visit well worth an afternoon, especially when the garden sculptures can also be en- joyed. For more information, visit the website: https://museoyrurtia.cultura.gob.ar/info/museo/#la- casa
A small gift (an embroidered Ecuadorian card) was presented to our guide as a token of our gratitude before some of us went to have tea nearby. We thank our VP Barbara Grünenfelder-Elliker for donating a number of these beautiful cards to the Spanish Through Experience program, to be given to our speakers and guides.