Instituto Ricardo Brennand, Art museum in Várzea district, Recife, Brazil.
The Instituto Ricardo Brennand is an art museum in the Várzea area, set in a castle-like building designed in medieval style with gardens and water features surrounding it. The collection includes European paintings, tapestries, sculptures, and decorative arts from different periods.
The institute was founded in 2002 by collector Ricardo Brennand and focuses on medieval European works and artifacts from the Dutch colonization period of Brazil. This focus reflects the founder's interest in two major historical periods.
The institute holds the largest private collection of Frans Post paintings, works that show Brazilian landscapes during the Dutch colonial period. These artworks tell a story of how European and Brazilian cultures connected, something visitors discover while walking through the galleries.
The site is best explored through guided tours, as the connection between different buildings happens over bridges. It helps to wear comfortable shoes, since the grounds are large and cover several areas.
The complex includes three separate buildings connected by bridges over artificial lakes, creating a fortress-like layout across the grounds. This unusual multi-building arrangement turns the visit into a physical journey, not just a walk through galleries.
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