Only in English
Fundación Lázaro Galdiano
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Continuing with our exploration of a few of the less well known museums, the Fundación Lázaro Galdiano is housed in what was once the Barrio de Salamanca palatial home of its founder. José Lázaro y Galdiano, trained as an attorney, was an editor, bibliophile and art collector. He began his journalistic career as an art critic and chronicle writer for a Barcelona newspaper. Moving to Madrid just before 1889, he founded a publishing company and began to seriously collect art.
Fleeing Spain at the outbreak of the Civil War, Lázaro Galdiano went first to Paris and in 1940 to the United States – collecting art the entire time. He returned to his Madrid home, “Parque Florido” in 1945 and added his newly purchased acquisitions to an already sizable art collection.
In 1948 Lázaro Galdiano bequeathed a large portion of his collection (art, books and papers) to the Spanish State at which time the foundation bearing his name was established. Today, along with directing the museum, the Foundation manages the library, archives, a research area and edits “Goya” the prestigious arts magazine.
As we enter you might hear echoes of the once famous literary gatherings held in the salons. Attended by luminaries such Miguel de Unamuno; Emilia Pardo Bazán, Rubén Darío and a number of other pre-eminent writers, it was here that some of the finest minds of Spain discussed everything from literature to politics.
The collection comprises more than 12,600 paintings, sculptures, silver items, jewels, enameled and marble items, fabrics, weapons, etc. from the 6th century B.C. to the early 20th century. The heart of the collection is the Spanish section on the ground floor with Gothic and Renaissance panels; works by El Greco; an incredible series by paintings by Goya; Ribera; Zurbarán; Velázquez; Murillo, Carreño and others. Be sure to look for Goya’s “Witches’ Sabbath” - considered to be an outstanding piece.
The second floor hosts the various European schools with works by Hieronymus Bosch; Cranach, Turner, Reynolds and Constable among others. The crème de la crème here is Hieronymus Bosch’s “St. John the Baptist in Meditation”.
On the third floor, a gallery has been arranged showcasing the majority of the collection’s smaller pieces - some thirteen thousand objects.
Just for Fun: If you are interested in Lázaro Galdiano’s life or the palace take note of the descriptions and photographs in every room detailing what each space was used for when the family lived here.
Museum hours of operation: Monday, Wednesday to Saturday 10am to 4.30pm (16:30); Sundays: 10am through 3pm (15:00). Closed Tuesdays.
Admission: General: 6€; Reduced: 3€, Children under 12 years free.
Fleeing Spain at the outbreak of the Civil War, Lázaro Galdiano went first to Paris and in 1940 to the United States – collecting art the entire time. He returned to his Madrid home, “Parque Florido” in 1945 and added his newly purchased acquisitions to an already sizable art collection.
In 1948 Lázaro Galdiano bequeathed a large portion of his collection (art, books and papers) to the Spanish State at which time the foundation bearing his name was established. Today, along with directing the museum, the Foundation manages the library, archives, a research area and edits “Goya” the prestigious arts magazine.
As we enter you might hear echoes of the once famous literary gatherings held in the salons. Attended by luminaries such Miguel de Unamuno; Emilia Pardo Bazán, Rubén Darío and a number of other pre-eminent writers, it was here that some of the finest minds of Spain discussed everything from literature to politics.
The collection comprises more than 12,600 paintings, sculptures, silver items, jewels, enameled and marble items, fabrics, weapons, etc. from the 6th century B.C. to the early 20th century. The heart of the collection is the Spanish section on the ground floor with Gothic and Renaissance panels; works by El Greco; an incredible series by paintings by Goya; Ribera; Zurbarán; Velázquez; Murillo, Carreño and others. Be sure to look for Goya’s “Witches’ Sabbath” - considered to be an outstanding piece.
The second floor hosts the various European schools with works by Hieronymus Bosch; Cranach, Turner, Reynolds and Constable among others. The crème de la crème here is Hieronymus Bosch’s “St. John the Baptist in Meditation”.
On the third floor, a gallery has been arranged showcasing the majority of the collection’s smaller pieces - some thirteen thousand objects.
Just for Fun: If you are interested in Lázaro Galdiano’s life or the palace take note of the descriptions and photographs in every room detailing what each space was used for when the family lived here.
Museum hours of operation: Monday, Wednesday to Saturday 10am to 4.30pm (16:30); Sundays: 10am through 3pm (15:00). Closed Tuesdays.
Admission: General: 6€; Reduced: 3€, Children under 12 years free.
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