Museo Nacional de Escultura, Valladolid Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Museo Nacional de Escultura

View of the main facade (Colegio de San Gregorio)
Established	1842
Location	Colegio de San Gregorio, Valladolid, Spain
Type	Art museum, sculptural museum, Historic site
Visitors	145.606 (2012)

Spanish Property of Cultural Interest
Official name: Museo Nacional de Escultura
Type	Non-movable
Criteria	Monument
Designated	1962
Reference no.	RI-51-0001422

The National Museum of Sculpture is a fantastic art museum in Valladolid, Spain. It is famous for its huge collection of sculptures. These artworks show how sculpture changed from the Middle Ages all the way to the 19th century.

Many of the museum's sculptures originally came from churches and monasteries. In 1836, the Spanish government collected these religious art pieces. Other artworks were given to the museum as gifts, or bought by the state.

History of the Museum
What You Can See
Gallery of Paintings
Gallery of Sculptures
See Also

History of the Museum

The museum first opened its doors on October 4, 1842. It was originally called the Provincial Museum of Fine Arts. Its first home was the Palacio de Santa Cruz.

Later, on April 29, 1933, the museum moved to its current main building. This is the beautiful Colegio de San Gregorio. The museum also uses two other historic buildings nearby. These are the 16th-century Palacio de Villena and the Palacio del Conde de Gondomar.

What You Can See

The museum has amazing sculptures and paintings from the 13th to the 19th centuries. Most of these works were created in Central Spain. However, you can also find art from places like Italy, Flanders, and South America. These places had strong connections with Spain long ago.

Some famous sculptures include:

Raising of the Cross by Francisco del Rincon
I Thirst and The Way of Calvary by Gregorio Fernández
Adoration of the Magi by Alonso Berruguete
Lamentation of Christ by Juan de Juni
Penitent Magdalene by Pedro de Mena
Holy Sepulchre by Alonso de Rozas

During Holy Week in Valladolid, the museum plays a special role. It lends 104 sculptures to the local brotherhoods. These sculptures are used in the traditional processions through the city streets.

Gallery of Paintings

Democritus and Heraclitus by Rubens, 1603
Jan Brueghel - "Tentaciones de San Antonio Abad" - Google Art Project.jpg

Temptations of San Antonio Abad by Jan Brueghel (first half of the 17th century)
Saint Francisco and Saint Domingo in the refectory by Felipe Gil de Mena (second half of the 17th century)

Pity by Pedro Berruguete, 1480
Joanna of Castile, likely by Jacob van Lathem, over 1500
Calvary by Antonio Moro, 1573
The annunciation of Mary by Gregorio Martínez, 1596
Still Life by Luis Egidio Meléndez, 1765
Allegory of the Immaculate Virgin by Juan de Roelas, 1616
Presentation of the Child in the temple by Diego Valentín Díaz, 1650
St. Anthony of Padua by Thomas Willeboirts Bosschaert, over 1650

Gallery of Sculptures

Medieval Sculptures

The Virgin with the child, anonymous, Castilian workshop, finally of the 13th century.

15th Century Sculptures

Pity, anonymous (made in Germany), 1406-1415.
Funerary Portrait of Luis Pimentel y Pacheco, anonymous, Lion workshop, 15th century.
Altarpiece of the Virgin's life, anonymous, Antwerp workshop, over 1515.
Bust of emperor Charles, young, anonymous, Flemish workshop, over 1520.
Altarpiece of St. Jerome by Jorge Inglés.