Cerralbo Museum facts for kids
| Museo Cerralbo | |
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Façade of the Museum
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| Established | 1944 |
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| Location | Calle Ventura Rodríguez 17, Madrid, Spain |
| Type | Fine art museum, numismatic museum, antiquities museum, decorative arts museum |
| Official name: Museo Cerralbo | |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument |
| Designated | 1962 |
| Reference no. | RI-51-0001382 |
The Cerralbo Museum (which is Museo Cerralbo in Spanish) is a fantastic art museum located in Madrid, Spain. It holds the amazing art and historical items collected by Enrique de Aguilera y Gamboa. He was the Marquis of Cerralbo, a Spanish nobleman who passed away in 1922. This museum is one of the National Museums of Spain. It is managed by the country's Ministry of Culture.
Contents
History of the Cerralbo Museum
The Marquis of Cerralbo, Enrique de Aguilera y Gamboa, first opened this place as his own private art gallery in 1893. He wanted to share his incredible collections with others.
How the Museum Was Created
After the Marquis passed away, the Spanish government agreed to take care of his collection in 1924. Some of his collection was moved to the National Archaeological Museum. The rest stayed in his beautiful home. This building officially became a public museum in 1944.
The Building's Style
The museum building itself was built in the 1800s. It was designed with an Italian style in mind. The inside was decorated in a very fancy way. You can still see the beautiful baroque furniture, detailed wall paintings, and expensive chandeliers. It looks much like it did when the Marquis lived there. In 1962, the building was recognized as a special historical-artistic monument.
What's Inside: The Collections
The Cerralbo Museum has more than 24,900 different items! The original collection had a very large group of numismatics, which means old coins and money.
Ancient Treasures
The archaeology collection includes pieces from ancient Greece, Rome, Etruria, and Egypt. These were popular items for collectors in the 1800s. There are also items from the Iberian Peninsula, which is where Spain is located. These include very old pieces from the Neolithic period, Iberian, Roman, and Almohad times. You can even see two stone masks from Puerto Rico!
Art from Around the World
The museum also has a collection of Oriental art. This mainly includes beautiful items from Chinese art and Japanese art. All the objects you see on display belonged to the Marquis of Cerralbo and the Marquise of Villa-Huerta.
Famous Paintings to See
The Marquis especially liked Spanish and Italian artworks. He also enjoyed paintings that showed religious scenes and portraits of people.
Artists in the Collection
The museum's painting collection includes works by famous artists. You can see paintings by Jacopo Tintoretto, Jacopo Palma the Younger, El Greco, Ludovico Carracci, Alonso Cano, Zurbarán, and Luis Paret.
Gallery of Artworks
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Frans Snyders, Porcupines and vipers
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Juan de Espinosa, Life Still with grapes and cakes
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Luis Paret, Seascape with figures
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El Greco, Saint Francis in Ecstasy
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Francisco de Zurbarán, The Inmaculate Conception
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Anton Van Dyck, La Virgen con el niño
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Archaeology and Coins
A big part of the archaeology section is the Marquis's amazing collection of numismatics. This means he collected many different coins from various times and places.
Decorative Arts
The decorative arts section shows off many beautiful items. You can find delicate porcelain pieces, colorful pottery, detailed tapestries, soft carpets, elegant furniture, unique lamps, and sparkling jewellery.
Collection of Clocks
The museum also has a special collection of clocks. These clocks are from the 18th and 19th centuries and come from France and England.
See also
In Spanish: Museo Cerralbo para niños
- List of museums in Madrid
