On June 28, 2023, the National Heritage Museum was opened in Madrid. Royal Collections Gallery. He did this surrounded by some controversy, because it meant changing a special historical-artistic preserve. As well as competition issues with other museums in the capital, such as the Royal Palace and the Moro gardens. However, the Gallery closed its first year as follows: record visitor numbers and just announce four new additions to his impressive collection.
In the barely six months since its opening, 336,058 people They toured the rooms and corridors of the Royal Collections Gallery. With this figure, a brand new museum, Last year it ranked third on the podium of most visited National Heritage sites. This fact, which is already very remarkable, is that the institution broke the annual visit recordin total 6,370,770 people participated in 2023 to the palaces, monasteries and green spaces he manages in six autonomous communities.
While this figure exceeds the number of visitors recorded in the previous year by over one million, it is 19 percent more than 2019, when it reached the previous record with 5 million 334 thousand 273 visits. In front of the Royal Collections Gallery are two great jewels in the crown of national heritage: PReal Madrid palace, with 1,421,428 visitors throughout the year and Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorialwith 445,166.
Four new additions in 2024
Following these huge figures recorded in 2023, the new year of the National Heritage has been announced Four additions to the Royal Collections Gallerybetween them A set of silver ewers of Elizabeth II and Francis of Assisi Dated to around 1861 Total investment is 172,000 Euros.
The work in question was purchased together by the Ministry of Culture. Illustration of Christ crowning St. Teresa by Corrado Giaquinto. Two other works were purchased directly by National Heritage: An anonymous 17th-century painting of Our Lady of AtochaAnd 18th century manuscript ‘General description of the fountains in the gardens of the Royal Estate of San Ildefonso’.
With these additions, the National Heritage “expands its collection of masters like Giaquinto,” II. It recovers fragments connected to Isabel, as well as a fragment from the history of the Atocha Basilica on its 500th anniversary, and a manuscript that tells us what happened. As the tercentenary of the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso is about to be commemorated, the 18th-century Royal Site of La Granja is highlighted. Lorena Ruiz, Director of Royal Collections.
Pieces of immense historical value
In the words of the director of the heritage museum, “Pieces of tremendous historical and artistic importance”. The investment made in these four parts Continue to enrich royal collections The organization that manages the National Heritage, which is considered among the most important in Europe with its diversity and richness.
‘Sketch of Christ Crowning St. Teresa’ is a framed work, signed oil on canvas. Corrado Giaquinto (Molfetta, 1703-Naples, 1766). This is one of several works for ‘soffitto’ (a decorative project for the ceiling) found in Spanish public collections.
Manuscript corresponding to the tercentenary of the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso was purchased ‘General description of the fountains in the gardens of the Royal Estate of La Granja de San Ildefonso. The year is 1778, Complementing the collection of documentaries on fountains, this document details that the fountains were originally painted in a reddish bronze tone.
A look at the 17th-century chapel of Our Lady of Atocha ‘The significance of the anonymous painting’ Maiden of Atocha‘ It lies in the fact that it reproduces very precisely the sculptural image of Our Lady of Atocha on her altar.