Source::AP news
Spain is preparing to unveil the Royal Collections Gallery in Madrid, which is anticipated to be one of Europe's cultural highlights of the year. The new museum will exhibit a stunning array of master paintings, tapestries, sculptures, decorative art, armory, and royal furniture amassed by Spanish monarchs over five centuries. Unlike other monarchies, Spain's royal collections belong to the public, overseen by the government body Patrimonio Nacional. The inaugural exhibition will showcase 650 extraordinary pieces, including works by renowned artists such as Velázquez, Goya, Caravaggio, Titian, and Tintoretto. The collection will also feature exceptional tapestries, ancient carriages, and royal furniture. Approximately one-third of the displayed works will be rotated annually for new exhibitions.
The Gallery aims to provide visitors with a unique perspective on the history of the Royal Palaces, which played a fundamental role in shaping Spain's history and influencing the world. Noteworthy pieces include Velázquez's "White Horse," which portrays a riderless horse, symbolizing the court painter's anticipation of being instructed on which king to depict. Caravaggio's captivating painting, "Salome with the Head of John the Baptist," from 1607, showcases the artist's mastery of light and facial expressions. Spain's first female court sculptor, Luisa Roldán, created a striking multicolored cedar wood sculpture of Saint Michael slaying the Devil in 1692, with rumors that she modeled the devil after her husband and potentially herself as Michael.
The gallery building itself is a remarkable work of art, designed by Luis Mansilla and Emilio Tuón. Its vertical linear structure, hidden from street view, descends seven floors and has received numerous architectural awards. Notably, the gallery incorporates Madrid's ninth-century Islamic foundation, including a fragment of the city's Moorish wall discovered during construction. Madrid, originally known as Mayrit in Arabic, was established by Islamic rulers as a fortress to protect Toledo. Following Spain's reconquest by the Catholic monarchs, Madrid was transformed into the royal court and capital by Felipe II in 1561.
The idea of constructing a museum to house the Crown's collections originated during Spain's anti-monarchy Second Republic between 1931 and 1939. While the leftist government seized royal properties, they safeguarded them under a new agency preceding Patrimonio Nacional. The Spanish Civil War, sparked by a rebellion led by General Francisco Franco, resulted in the republic's demise and a subsequent dictatorship lasting about four decades. Two decades after Franco's death and the return to democracy, the initiative for the museum resurfaced in 1998. However, it took an additional 25 years, 172 million euros ($186 million), and several government changes to bring the ambitious project to fruition.
The gallery's director, Leticia Ruiz, believes that the combination of artistic beauty and modernist architecture will captivate visitors from the moment they enter. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will inaugurate the gallery on June 28, and for the initial days, it will be open to the public free of charge._APnews
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