The original house on this property was built by Captain Villegas (governor of Callao) in 1752. In 1818 the building was bought by the Lobatón Laos family. Its current design dates back to the middle of the 19th century, when General César Canevaro, a war hero of the Chilean War (1879 – 1883) rebuilt the house in a typical Republican style with pure and refined lines and beautiful wooden balconies.
Today the Casa Canevaro belongs to the School of Fine Arts (Escuela de las Bellas Artes) and houses the Pre-Bellas Artes Center and various workshops.