Museo del Carnaval

The Museo del Carnaval was the last place I visited before my original camera was stolen back in September. I'm not sure why it took me so long to return, especially since it's free on Tuesdays. Anyway, I made it back there last week (Tuesday the 27th, of course) to re-take some photos...

Painting by the famous Uruguayan artist, Carlos Páez Vilaró.

Candombe: Heritage of Humanity,
Pride of Uruguay.

The card reads: "Giant Drum: The largest drum to have paraded in Uruguayan carnival. It needed special support to be carried. It was constructed in tribute to Juan Velorio and was used by the comparsa La Zabala in Carnaval 2007."



The original tambor más grande ("giant drum"), shown being played by Walter Sánchez Silveira, "Keka," in the Desfile de Las Llamadas, 1979.

"Kanela" refers to Julio Sosa, shown in the photo to the right, who is the director of the comparsa Tronar de Tambores, the group which won the 2012 Desfile de Las Llamadas.

Parade along the Rambla.

Los Lecuona Cuban Boys in Teatro Solís.

Sign reads "Parodistas Negros Melódicos." Example of
blackface traditions in Montevideo.

The first photo above is Martha Gularte, vedette and carnival icon, taken in 1950; the second shows the legendary singer Lágrima Ríos in front of the conventillo Mediomundo in Barrio Sur.

Two candombe paintings by Uruguayan artist Eduardo Vernazza (1910-1991).

The following photos show a collection of masks from around the world:

The rest of the museum was devoted to the other carnival traditions, like the murgas, particularly showcasing the elaborate costumes and accessories used by various ensembles.

Bombo. Bass drum used by the murgas.

And that's all, folks.