Museo de Arte Colonial, Bogota

The Colonial Art Museum is one of the most refined art museums of Bogota, located in the former Colegio Máximo, a typical two-storey Hispanic building of the 17th century, merging with the next door House of Pastors. It houses the most complete collection of everyday objects, paintings, drawings, sculptures, reliefs and works in gold and silver produced between the 16th and 18th centuries. You might also find here paintings by Miguel de Santiago, Gregorio Vásquez, Bernardo Legarda, various religious sculptures from Mexico and Central America, oil paintings and drawings from Italy, Spain and the Netherlands, and even European antique musical instruments. Colonial Art Museum is also a place for understanding the concept of a civil portrait in 17th-18th century New Granada. The characters depicted on the portraits can take a tour through the symbolic value of power, giving accounts on clothing, jewelry, virtues and other qualities, and most of all, the importance of "earning" a portrait.