This spectacular book plots 3500 years of artistic production in the regions that are now modern Colombia: from anonymous Pre-Hispanic pottery to installation art by international celebrity artist Fernando Botero. The many galleries of Colombia's artistic heritage include: a distinct colonial art period of devout religious iconography; an imaginative adaptation of Baroque styles; the inevitable emergence of a distinct 'American' art in Colombia; a conjunction with history in the celebrations of the hero in the era of Independence; later, the joyful meeting of artists and the natural history of the region in the 19th century. This vibrant cultural energy eagerly absorbed twentieth century art's ruptures and new expressions in every medium. This huge legacy of painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, collage, and craftwork is drawn from the art collection of the Bank of the Republic, the national banking institution of Colombia, and complemented by other important public collections.
The artists represented here are anonymous and internationally-known; the 400 pieces taken together tell a little-known story of continuous development of a culture of art into one of the most elaborate and interesting in the world.