Located at number 18 on San Agustín Street, one of the city’s main and oldest thoroughfares, the Cristino de Vera cultural space of the CajaCanarias Foundation resides within the historic residence that belonged to Antonio Vizcaíno de Quesada. Historically referred to as Calle Real, this designation appears in the minutes of the Cabildo from 1505. Historian Manuela Marrero notes, “It is sometimes referred to as Calle Real; however, in the sentiment of the period, all streets were considered royal as they belonged to the king along with the royal paths.” She further explains, “In documents, the trails and paths of the Guanches are distinguished, which do not carry the royal title.”
This historic street in La Laguna was also recognised by the names of merchants, as indicated in council minutes from 1508 to 1511, and Holy Spirit, stemming from the invocation to the Holy Spirit, which was designated to the church of the monastery built by the Augustinian monks at the end of the street. By 1808, council records show it had already adopted the current name of San Agustín. This thoroughfare was cobbled in 1542, later repaved, and is presently tiled with stone. It remains one of the pedestrianised streets in the Historic Centre of La Laguna, sharing with the race the greatest concentration of historical buildings.
The house now occupied by the Cristino de Vera-Espacio of CajaCanarias was owned, since the mid-eighteenth century, by Antonio Vizcaíno de Quesada, a lawyer for the Royal Councils, Lieutenant of Corregidor, and Major Mayor of the Island. He also served as interim Corregidor following the transfer of his superior, Francisco de Valenzuela, to the Court in 1743. He was a significant figure in the Cabildo and was appointed Auditor of the War in 1770. In 1746, Sergeant Major Francisco Montañés Machado constructed a house, now known as Casa Montañés, which currently serves as the headquarters for the Canary Islands Advisory Council. This property was linked to Francisco Linares’s house on the corner of Viana and also to the home of Mr. Antonio Vizcaíno de Quesada. Eventually, it was sold by his granddaughter María Bustamante y Vizcaíno to the Irish merchant Bernardo Forstall.
In the nineteenth century, the house belonged to canon José Martín Méndez, who purchased it from the Irishman Bernardo Forstall. The new proprietor also held the titles of Dean at La Laguna Cathedral, Vicar General, Provisor, and Ecclesiastical Governor. The canon received authorisation to make necessary improvements to the building, such as the installation of street-facing windows, painting work, and the demolition of an adjacent kitchen space to enlarge it. He passed away on January 18, 1877, in La Laguna, drafting a will in favour of his sister María del Carmen Martín, although he bequeathed the property to Trinidad Saavedra and Peraza. Upon his passing in February 1918, he named as heirs his nephews Esteban and Vicente Saavedra y Fernández. Following transfers to various relatives, it was ultimately acquired on April 22, 2004, by the Financial Entity General Savings Bank of the Canary Islands, intended to serve as a museum.
Interior of the Cristino de Vera Foundation. | / Efraín Pintos
The building features two storeys, a façade facing San Agustín Street, an inner courtyard on three sides, along with a backyard and a small garden—typical elements of the period’s La Laguna homes. The guillotine windows originally had masonry frames, which were later substituted with wooden ones, accentuating the cornices associated with the retreat. The eaves feature a bordered edge with mouldings. Inside the residence, various renovations undertaken during the twentieth century are prominently visible. The main rooms had false cane and plaster ceilings. Architect Fernando Saavedra, who oversaw the successful renovation project, stated, “The beams supporting the first floor (the most significant from a social standpoint) were simply weathered, yet intact, contrasting with other areas that featured superior finishes.”
The primary courtyard is surrounded on three sides and includes a covered gallery on the upper level. The windows, similar to those on the façade, are guillotine-style with factory antepachos. The most significant feature of the upper floor is the barn, which also features an additional internal height.
The Cristino de Vera-Cultural CajaCanarias Foundation was established with the then-existing Financial Entity General Savings Bank of the Canary Islands. It is a private, non-profit organisation focused on cultural, educational, scientific, and artistic promotion, which opened its doors to the public in the UNESCO-listed Heritage City of La Laguna in 2009.
Among its foundational aims is the acquisition, preservation, conservation, promotion, dissemination, execution, and funding of all types of goods and activities, including those related to innovation, research, study, development, and training in artistic heritage and fine arts, particularly contemporary art trends, works, and movements.
Cristino de Vera, the National Prize for Plastic Arts in 1998 and Gold Medal for Fine Arts in 2002, is regarded as one of the most prominent contemporary artists in the history of Spanish art. Born in Tenerife in 1931, he studied painting under Mariano de Cossío at the School of Arts and Crafts of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. He embarked on an extensive professional career in Madrid, where he moved in 1951 to continue his artistic education in the workshop of Daniel Vázquez Díaz. In the 1960s, having received a scholarship from the Juan March Foundation, he travelled through various European nations. His first collective exhibition took place at the Xagra gallery in 1952, while his inaugural solo exhibition occurred in 1954 at the Galerie Style.
An artist of significant relevance
With over sixty years of artistic endeavour and a comprehensive body of work, the artist holds a distinguished position within the landscape of contemporary Spanish art history. He was honoured with the Gold Medal in 1996, the National Plastic Arts Award in 1998, the Gold Medal for Fine Arts in 2002, and the Canary Islands Award for Fine Arts and Interpretation in 2005, among other accolades. His works are featured in the country’s most prestigious art collections, including those of the Reina Sofía National Art Centre Museum, the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Madrid, the Atlantic Centre for Modern Art, the Tenerife Space of the Arts, and the Municipal Museum of Fine Arts in Tenerife, as well as permanently in the museum space within the Foundation that carries his name in La Laguna.
The project to establish a museum at the Saavedra Martínez Barona Casa was drafted by architect Juan Pablo Rodríguez Frade, who was also a co-author of the housing rehabilitation alongside architects Vicente and Fernando Saavedra Martínez. The plans for executing the project were documented as of May 2006, with the rehabilitation works concluding two years later in May 2008.
On the ground floor, the facilities feature a reception and information point, public assistance, ticket sales, publications, and a temporary exhibition area. The primary courtyard contains an auditorium with a versatile and adaptable space that accommodates literary presentations, debates, and audiovisual screenings. At the back lies the administrative management area. The permanent collection of artist Cristino de Vera is showcased on the first floor, while the ground floor hosts a library containing documentary resources belonging to the painter, a research centre, and a designated area for researchers.
The facilities of the Cristino de Vera cultural space are staffed by specialised personnel under the direction of the director, clear weapons of León.
