When we visit the Sorolla Museum, we can contemplate the important painting collection by the artist from Valencia and at the same time walk around his own beautiful home both of which are really worth seeing. This Home Museum is located in a very privileged part of the city, in Paseo del General Martinez Campos next to Paseo de la Castellana. The painter´s home has been preserved as he left it so that when you go inside you feel as if you were in a fairytale place.

Inside, you can admire the painter´s studio as well as the breathtaking garden and the picturesque Andalusian courtyard. In addition, you can see the rooms which are decorated with paintings by the artist  as well as having other ornamental decorations and sculptures. Actually, when you visit the museum it seems incredible that you are in the very centre of Madrid because you have the feeling that time has stopped and that you are in a far away and magical place. The house was designed by Joaquin Sorolla himself as the place of residence for his family. When he died it became his own museum. Some time ago, we wrote about Casa Arabe de Madrid, today, we will talk about the Sorolla Museum in our section Places with a lot of History.

A DREAM HOME

Since 1911, the present Sorolla Museum was the residence of Joaquín Sorolla and his family. It also boasts of being the best preserved artist´s residence in Europe. Actually, the painter himself planned and projected his dream which consisted of integrating a family residence with his workspace.

The artist was able to finance his project thanks to his growing success, especially in his exhibitions in the Unites States. When the Valencian painter died in 1923, his widow Clotilde García del Castillo bequeathed to the Spanish Government the house as well as the art collection, on condition that a museum was created dedicated to her husband.

In 1932, the museum was inaugurated. The family helped towards the success of making the house look exactly the same as when the painter lived. More than 1.200 works by Sorolla can be viewed, in addition to personal objects, furniture and his personal art collection.

VISITING THE MUSEUM

The Sorolla Museum has a large garden at the entrance which was the union of three gardens with different styles that the artist himself designed. Also, there is an Andalusian courtyard coated with tiles from Triana and decorated with several pottery pieces. We can also admire three main halls.

Hall I, has an interesting collection of works by the artist. Hall II, is the old study of Sorolla where he met his clients and showed them his latest paintings. Hall III, is the artist´s studio which is as he had left it. This is a fascinating place as it enables the visitor to see in detail how Sorolla worked.

On the second floor, there are four more halls which are, at present, meant for temporary exhibitions. In addition, there is a large living room overlooking the garden as well as a dining room and an adjoining room. Both of them are very interesting to see because they are decorated with excellent taste. In short, this museum is a unique place in Madrid and an indispensable visit if you are fond of art and culture. If you have never been there, you must go. You have more information on the museum Web Page.

DID YOU KNOW THAT…?

The great year for Joaquín Sorolla was 1909. He held an exhibition in New York that exceeded the most optimistic calculations as it received 160.000 visitors in one month and 150 paintings were sold.

Pictures 01 and 02: Luis García

Picture 03: Bart Van Poll

Pictures 04, 07, 08 and 09: Juantiagues

Picture 05: Adam Jones

Picture 06: Tim Adams