Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
Madrid, Comunidad de
The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, located in Madrid near the Prado Museum, is a prestigious art institution that completes the city's famed "Golden Triangle of Art" alongside the Prado and Reina Sofía museums. Established in 1992, it houses over 1,600 paintings covering a vast timeline from early European masters to 20th-century modern art. The museum's collection began in the 1920s as a private assemblage by Baron Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza and was significantly expanded by his son, Baron Hans Heinrich. The collection includes important Italian primitives, early Flemish and Dutch painters, Baroque Dutch works, and a comprehensive range of Impressionist, Expressionist, and American modern paintings. Housed in the historic Villahermosa Palace, the museum's interior features a distinct salmon pink tone chosen by Baroness Carmen Cervera, who has played a vital role in the museum's development. The museum not only showcases a diverse array of masterpieces but also offers temporary exhibitions and educational programs, making it a dynamic cultural hub in Madrid.
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Astuce: Visitors are encouraged to buy tickets online in advance to avoid queues, especially during peak tourist seasons. The museum offers free or discounted entry for annual pass holders and certain groups. The best time to visit is during weekday mornings or late afternoons to enjoy a quieter experience. Guided tours and thematic visits tailored for families and art enthusiasts are available and recommended for deeper appreciation.
Faits intéressants
- •The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum was once the second largest private art collection in the world after the British Royal Collection.
- •It completes the "Golden Triangle of Art" in Madrid along with the Prado and Reina Sofía museums.
- •The museum's building, the Villahermosa Palace, was once a prestigious 18th-century mansion and hosted cultural events including Franz Liszt piano recitals in the 1840s.
- •Baroness Carmen Cervera personally chose the salmon pink color of the museum's interior walls.
- •The museum experienced one of the highest visitor growth rates in Spain after the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching over one million visitors in 2022.
Histoire
The Thyssen-Bornemisza collection began in the 1920s with Baron Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza, who acquired significant European paintings, often from American collections during the Great Depression.
His son, Baron Hans Heinrich, expanded the collection considerably, acquiring works from Gothic to modern art.
Originally housed in Lugano, Switzerland, plans to expand there were rejected, prompting relocation to Madrid.
The museum opened in 1992 in the Villahermosa Palace, with the Spanish government purchasing a large portion of the collection in 1993.
Since then, the museum has grown and modernized, including expansions in 2004 and ongoing collaborations with Baroness Carmen Cervera.
Guide du lieu
Villahermosa Palace18th century
An 18th-century neoclassical palace that houses the museum, originally a noble residence with grand interiors, including a ballroom and private chapel, later remodeled for museum use.
Permanent Collection Galleries
Spaces displaying over 700 works from early Italian primitives and Flemish painters to 20th-century modern art, highlighting key artists such as Duccio, Jan van Eyck, Ghirlandaio, Manet, Monet, Van Gogh, Kandinsky, and Pollock.
Temporary Exhibition Spaces2004 (expansion)
Dedicated areas on the ground floor for rotating exhibitions, allowing visitors to explore specific themes, artists, or movements beyond the permanent collection.
Contact
Téléphone: 917 91 13 70
