Fundación Carlos de Amberes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carlos de Amberes Foundation |
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| Native name Spanish: Fundación Carlos de Amberes |
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| Location | Madrid, Spain |
| Built | 1877 |
| Architect | Agustín Ortiz de Villajos Manuel Ortiz de Villajos |
| Architectural style(s) | Eclecticism |
| Official name: Fundación Carlos de Amberes | |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument |
| Designated | 1994 |
| Reference no. | RI-51-0007300 |
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The Carlos de Amberes Foundation (in Spanish: Fundación Carlos de Amberes) is a special non-profit organization. It started way back in 1594. Its first job was to help poor people and travelers coming from the old Seventeen Provinces of the Netherlands. These provinces are now countries like Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and parts of Northern France. They were traveling to the Spanish capital, Madrid.
Today, the Foundation does many different things. It supports programs, activities, and books about history and science. It also organizes cool exhibitions, concerts, talks, and workshops. Its main focus is on the history of Europe, especially Spain and the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg). It also encourages thinking about how Europe was built and how it works today.
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History of the Foundation
The Foundation was first called the Royal Board of Saint Andrew of the Flemish. Its main goal was to give shelter and help to poor people and travelers from the Seventeen Provinces of the Netherlands.
The story of this Royal Board began in 1594. On August 16, a man named Charles of Antwerp (in Spanish: Carlos de Amberes) signed a legal paper. He gave away some of his properties. After he died, these properties would be used to create a place for poor people from the Seventeen Provinces who visited Madrid. This new hospital, named San Andrés de los Flamencos, was one of many similar places created around that time.
Charles of Antwerp passed away in 1604. A soldier named Miguel du Frêne helped make Charles's idea come true. With support from the Flemish guard, the new hospital for the poor was opened. It was named after Saint Andrew, who was an important patron saint of the Duchy of Burgundy.
In 1606, King Philip III of Spain agreed to be in charge of the Foundation. He and the kings after him would oversee it. The first rules, made in 1616, said that people from the Seventeen Provinces, or their descendants, should run the Foundation.
In 1621, a new building was planned for the hospital and a church in Madrid. The architect Juan Gómez de Mora designed it. Later, in 1636, the famous Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens was asked to create a painting. This painting, called Martyrdom of Saint Andrew, was placed on the main altar of the hospital's church after Rubens died. It has stayed with the Foundation for over 380 years and still has its original frame.
The Foundation faced tough times in 1798. The government took over many hospitals and charity homes. The Royal Board of San Andrés de los Flamencos almost disappeared. Things got even worse during the reign of King Ferdinand VII. The building was hard to maintain, and the old church collapsed in 1848.
Luckily, Belgian diplomats in Madrid helped. They got support from the Spanish Crown. The Foundation was able to recover. On November 30, 1877, a new hospital and church were opened. They were on Claudio Coello Street in a new part of Madrid. King Alfonso XII and the Princess of Asturias, Isabel of Bourbon, attended the opening. The church became the first parish in that area. Since then, the Carlos de Amberes Foundation has been located there. The architect for the church was Agustín Ortiz de Villajos.
The Royal Hospital of San Andrés de los Flamencos is one of the few places that has stayed active for over 400 years. It is now one of Europe's oldest non-profit private foundations. It has changed and grown thanks to the hard work of its leaders and helpers.
The Foundation completely changed its purpose later on. It asked Juan Carlos I of Spain to become a cultural organization. This meant it would no longer focus on charity and welfare. After the King approved, it was registered as a private cultural foundation in 1988.
Soon, the old building started to be updated. The original building was designed by the brothers Agustín and Manuel Ortíz de Villajos in 1876-1877. It had an eclectic style, meaning it mixed different architectural styles. It was built as a church, hostel, and infirmary. But it was greatly changed to fit the Foundation's new goals. Architects created a modern cultural center. They added new spaces like an auditorium, exhibition halls, a library, and offices.
On November 25, 1992, the Kings of Spain, Juan Carlos and Sofía, opened the newly renovated building. They were joined by the Kings of Belgium, Baudouin I and Queen Fabiola. The Carlos de Amberes Foundation became a very important cultural center in Madrid. From that year on, the Foundation started new activities. These activities aimed to promote cultural, historical, and scientific exchanges. They connected Spain with the former Provinces of the Netherlands, which are now the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, and France. The building itself was recognized as a place of cultural interest in 1994.
The Foundation has a library with over 4,000 books. These books focus on European topics, French and Dutch literature, and the history and art of the old Seventeen Provinces. Many books come from the Belgian Embassy and from donations.
The Foundation also displays a portrait of the Second Marquis of Casa Riera. This painting was given to the Foundation by Queen Fabiola of Belgium in 1997. It also has a special symphonic harmonium from 1857. This musical instrument is unique in Spain. It was made by Jean-Baptiste-Napoleon Fourneaux, who supplied instruments to Emperor Napoleon III. Since it was fixed in 1994, many concerts have been played on it.
What the Foundation Does
Since 1992, the Carlos de Amberes Foundation has done many different things. These include art exhibitions, showing photography, modern art, and historical pieces. They also host talks, workshops, poetry readings, and concerts of classical and jazz music. You can even rent their spaces for private events.
Exhibitions
The Foundation has hosted over 60 exhibitions. Some were very important. They showed photographs by Edward Steichen, René Magritte, and Man Ray. Other exhibitions featured old scientific instruments, astrolabes, and clocks from the 16th century. There were also shows about drawings by Rembrandt and Van Dyck.
They also had exhibitions about old printers like Christophe Plantin. They showed maps by famous mapmakers like Blaeu and Mercator. The Foundation even featured the illustrator Hergé and his famous character, Tintin. Other shows highlighted modern artists like M. C. Escher and Toulouse-Lautrec.
Some historical exhibitions included "The end of the Flanders War" and "The Royal Alcázar of Madrid." The Foundation has also organized exhibitions outside Madrid. For example, "Philip I the Handsome, beauty and madness" was shown in Burgos and Bruges.
From 2014 to 2015, the Carlos de Amberes Museum opened to the public. It showed works by Flemish and Dutch masters. Many paintings came from the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp. Other works came from the Prado Museum and private collections. The museum featured paintings by Rubens, Pieter Brueghel the Elder, Anton van Dyck, and others. It showed different types of Flemish painting, like portraits, landscapes, and daily life scenes.
Concerts and Music
Since 1992, more than 80 concerts have been held in the Foundation's auditorium. These include chamber music and performances by solo artists and vocal groups from around the world. On average, 15 concerts are held each year. Many music schools and groups have performed there.
The Foundation has also released music recordings. These include music from the time of Philip I the Handsome and other historical figures. They have also helped share the music of Spanish composer Juan Oliver y Astorga.
Talks and Seminars
The talks organized by the Carlos de Amberes Foundation cover history, culture, and European topics. They also celebrate important historical figures and events.
Since 1999, the Foundation has held an International History Seminar every year. These seminars look at topics from different angles. Past topics include "The Empire of Charles V" and "The War of the Spanish Succession."
Other talks have focused on figures like the Duke of Alba and William of Orange. They have also discussed painters like Van Dyck and Vermeer.
Many important Spanish and European politicians have given talks at the Foundation. These include Felipe González and José María Aznar. The Foundation also organizes lectures about European treaties and policies.
Other Activities
Besides the activities mentioned, the Foundation also does research programs. It offers special courses with universities like the National University of Distance Education (UNED) and the Autonomous University of Madrid. They also hold seminars and book presentations by famous writers.
The Carlos de Amberes Foundation works with many other organizations and companies. This helps them achieve their goals. They have agreements with universities like the Complutense University of Madrid and cultural institutions like The National Library of Spain.
Their auditorium and exhibition halls can be rented for events. The auditorium has excellent sound quality. This makes it perfect for recording all kinds of chamber music.
See also
In Spanish: Fundación Carlos de Amberes para niños
