What is behind the abbreviation BCRP? Simple: Central Reserve Bank of Peru. But this bank museum is not about money. The Central Bank Reserve Museum offers something completely different, namely, a collection of pre-Columbian cultural products, art from the 16th and 17th centuries, as well as a collection of Peruvian paintings.
The museum is located a few hundred meters south of the Plaza Mayor in the former building of the Central Reserve Bank, one of the magnificent buildings of this venerable institution. It can be seen in the massive facade with its columns. The steel construction of the roof allows a lot of light in the exhibition rooms, the floors are covered in marble. The building itself is worth a visit. In addition, this museum shows how much private collectors have helped to preserve the vestiges of previous eras.
The archaeological department
The wealth of pre-Columbian testimonies is immeasurable. That is why there are many museums that have a department dedicated to ancient cultures, or have specialized in them completely. The BCRP Museum has more than 4,000 exhibitions of various cultures. There are ceramics from the Moche, textiles from the Chimú culture and sculptures, as well as Nazca, Lambayeque and Inca utensils. The famous gold collection by Hugo Cohen plays a special role. The private man collected a considerable amount of objects from different cultures, including masks, trinkets and knives for ritual use.
Folk art in Peru
After the Spanish conquered Peru, crafts acquired a new dimension. Wood, silver and gold were still processed in artistic and everyday objects. The exhibitions of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, which belonged to the private collection of Nadia Carnero, are particularly good to see how the European styles imported into Peru were mixed with the traditions of the indigenous population. This resulted in a unique hybrid form. Examples include textile works from the Andean regions and paintings.
The Peruvian painting
Maybe the names Gil de Castro and Pancho Fierro do not tell you anything yet. But if you have seen the works of these outstanding representatives of the republican painting of Peru, you will not forget them soon. The painting that emerged in Peru after independence from Spain was inspired by political upheavals and continued to develop independently of the European homeland. This is exactly what the watercolor of Pancho Fierros represents, which represents various aspects of Peruvian daily life. Gil de Castro, on the other hand, is known for his portraits. The collection also includes paintings of indigenous peoples and the twentieth century.
Banco Central de Reserva del Perú
Address:
Jirón Ucayali 271, Cercado de Lima
Opening Hour: Di. – Sa. 09:00 – 17:00
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