Museo Arocena

The Museo Arocena in Torreón, Mexico, opened in 2006 and houses an important collection of historical and artistic works. The museum is located in the former Casino de La Laguna building, which was designed in 1910 by the French architect Louis Channel. The exhibitions are spread across four levels covering an area of five thousand square meters. The core of the holdings is a collection of more than three thousand works of art that the Arocena family and their descendants have assembled over more than a hundred years. These works include European and Mexican art from the viceregal period as well as contemporary pieces. The collection is considered one of the largest in the country and lets visitors trace the technical and stylistic development of the applied arts in Europe and Mexico, including their influences and differences.

The permanent exhibition is divided into two main areas: the art of viceregal Mexico and European art. The section on New Spanish art features important portraits and religious paintings from the eighteenth century, including works by Miguel Cabrera. Particularly noteworthy are the sections on Hispano-Oriental sculptures in silver and ivory, furniture with inlay work, and examples of majolica and ceramics. The European collection comes mainly from Spain and covers the period from the fourteenth to the nineteenth century. Here you will find paintings from the Spanish Golden Age, including works by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo and Francisco de Zurbarán, as well as Flemish panel paintings. In addition, the museum covers national and regional history through special exhibitions enriched with multimedia elements such as videos and interactive stations.

Besides the artworks, the museum also offers a specialized library for art and history as well as an auditorium with multimedia equipment. The history of the Arocena family is closely tied to the region: their ancestor Rafael Arocena y Arbide, a successful cotton entrepreneur, shaped the economic development of the Comarca Lagunera. The current foundation continues this tradition and plans further expansions, including the restoration of neighboring historic buildings to create additional exhibition space. Entry is via the Plaza Peñoles, which is sheltered by a roof of zinc and silver leaves.