Surrounded by a charming garden and located in a beautiful mansion on General Martínez Campos street in Madrid is the Joaquín Sorolla House-Museum, which houses an interesting collection of works by the great Valencian painter and a selection of objects that he gathered throughout of their life.
Although it does not have the fame of the Prado Museum or the Thyssen Museum, the Sorolla House-Museum is a very interesting option to visit during a visit to the capital of Spain. Both on an artistic and historical level.
What is the origin of the Joaquín Sorolla House-Museum?
Clotilde García del Castillo, the artist's wife, gave the building to the State and made a donation for the creation of a museum in memory of her husband when he died.
The collections exhibited in the Sorolla House-Museum come from this donation and from the one made in 1951 by Joaquín Sorolla García, the painter's only male child. Since 1982 this has been increased with acquisitions made by the Spanish State to complete the museum offer.
The largest part is that of the paintings made by Sorolla himself, with more than 1200 pieces. It also highlights the collection of photographs that makes it possible for us to know the intimate life of the artist, as well as see the diagrams of the designs he made for his own home.
The collection of the Sorolla Museum also includes various personal objects, sculptures, jewelery, ceramics, as well as the furniture that still conserves its former location in the house.
Image | Españarusa.com
Permanent exhibition
The collections are distributed throughout all the areas that can be visited in the house, which has kept the decoration practically intact since the time of Joaquín Sorolla. Thus, the painting collection coexists with the original furniture and objects of the house, being one of the best preserved house-museums in Europe.
Since the Sorolla House-Museum organizes temporary exhibitions and makes loans to other institutions, the paintings can change rooms and for this reason they have the habit of reorganizing the walls so that these loans do not leave gaps in the walls.
Here we can find some of Sorolla's most famous works such as Walk along the sea, Pink robe o The little sloop, Entre otras muchas.
Along with Sorolla's paintings, another 164 works by other painters such as Anders Zorn, Martín Rico Ortega or Aureliano de Beruete can be seen.
Image | Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports
Temporary exhibitions
All temporary exhibitions have to do with the Valencian artist, with his ideas, his technique, his personal life, etc. Currently, until January 21, 2018, you can visit a photographic exhibition that aims to offer a portrait of Sorolla's creative and personal universe.
Given his status as a brilliant artist and national pride, Sorolla was always the target of photographers, such as Antonio García, Christian Franzen or González Ragel, among others, who portrayed him at work or in the family environment.
Likewise, this exhibition also shows the revolution that Spain experienced in the field of portraiture and photographic reporting during the transition from the XNUMXth to the XNUMXth century.
Image | Madridea
The Garden of the House-Museum
At the entrance of the house is the garden, which isolates the museum from the bustle of the street. This is preserved as it was designed by Sorolla, who took great care in its architecture and decoration. It is divided into three areas: the first is inspired by the Jardin de Troya in the Alcázar of Seville, the second is inspired by the Generalife of Granada, being in an Arabesque style framed by fountains and a small pool at the end of it. The third has a pond dominated by a sculptural group called the "fountain of confidences" and a pleasant pergola where Sorolla used to sit.
Guided tours
Those who wish to get to know the Sorolla House-Museum can do so through a guided tour that will go through the temporary photography exhibition that aims to offer a photographic portrait of Joaquín Sorolla and his creative and personal universe.
What are the hours of the Sorolla House-Museum?
- Tuesday to Saturday: from 9:30 a.m. to 20:00 p.m.
- Sundays: from 10:00 a.m. to 15:00 p.m.
- Closed Monday.
What is the price of the ticket?
- General admission: € 3.
- Free entry: Saturdays from 14:00 p.m. and Sundays.
- Free entry: Under 18s, youth card, students up to 25 years old and retirees.