Thyssen Bornemisza Museum, Madrid

This museum was about 10 minutes walk from our hostal and we loved it. It had a special exhibition on when we were there entitled "Heroines" which cos money but was well worth it and the 2nd half of the exhibition was at another branch of the museum at San Martin square and that part was free. We thought the museum was quite delightful.Can't remember what it cost but pay and go!

The Museo Thyssen Bornemisza is a perfet compliment to the other two top museums of Madrid, The Prado and the Reina Sofia. Ubicated in a Palace which was formerly home to the Duque of Vallehermosa, it is a Neo-Classical mansion from 1806. Many critics see this museum as the world's most important private art collection, assembled by Baron Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza and his son Hans Heinrich. For several generations, the family collected a large number of works that today are exhibited in this museum. The Spanish state bought it in 1993.

It is said that this museum is the perfect complement to the Prado and Reina Sofía museums, because it bridges the gaps in their respective collections. There are splendid works, dating from the 14th century up to the masterly pop art of the 20th century. This is a wonderful place for a journey through the different "Isms" of art, starting with Impressionism. A new building with 18 rooms, which houses the Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection, has recently been added to the museum. Two of these rooms are used for temporary exhibits.

Some of the most famous paintings that you will be bale to see during your visit to this museum include Cézanne's "Portrait of a Farmer", some of Van Gogh paintings, Picasso's "Man with a Clarinet" and "Harlequin with a Mirror,". Other big names from that century in the surrounding galleries include Miró, Dali, Bacon, and Pollock, whose "Brown and Silver I" is especially worth paying close attention to. The same goes for Edward Hopper's "Hotel Room," seen as a study of urban isolation.

The entry fee to this museum costs 8 Euros and it is free if you are holding the Madrid pass or the paseo de Arte pass

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Known as the ‘artichoke fountain’ because of the artichoke on the top the original of this fountain was designed by Ventura Rodriguez and built in 1781/1782. A reproduction of it is located in the Glorieta de Atocha. The top of the fountain is held up by cherubs.

This museum has a great collection of art. Works of art from the 13th century to present from the permanent collection.

Now there is a temporary exhibition of Henri Matisse. Works of the Interwar period (1917-1941) are exposed.
Untill September 20, 2009

Originally a private collection before being taken over by the state, Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza's collection comprises over 800 paintings. Here we can find exhibits from the 13th century to the present day, and thus follow the most important trends and movements in art over the last few hundred years.

Opening hours :

Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 7pm. Closed Mondays. The ticket office closes at 6:30pm. The Museum is closed on January 1, May 1 and December 25. The Museum will be open from 10am to 3pm on December 24 and 31.

Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection + Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection
General 6.00 €
Reduced 4.00 €

* Temporary Exhibition
General 5.00 €
Reduced 3.50 €

* Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection + Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection + Temporary Exhibition
General 9.00 €
Reduced 5.00 €

* Contexts of the Permanent Collection
Free Entry

REDUCED:
Senior Citizens (over 65) and Students with ID.
FREE:
Under 12s accompanied by an adult.

To think that the paintings displayed in this museum were actually part of a private collection is absolutely mind-blowing! Baron Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza had a passion for the arts, and luckily for him he had enough money to sustain this passion. Starting in the 1920s, he began acquiring classical paintings, and upon his death in 1947, his youngest son Hans started adding to the collection, and his wife Carmen soon followed suit. The result is a stunning collection that covers eight centuries of European and American paintings, with examples from all the major artistic movements that have evolved throughout the years. Carmen Cervera (Miss Spain 1961) was instrumental in transferring the collection to Madrid. The museum opened in 1992, and a wing was added in 2004 to house the Thyssen-Bornemisza family's 1500 paintings.

I spent about 5 hours at the Thyssen but I could easily have spent more. The museum is organized in chronological order, which basically turns the visit into an art history lesson! Opening hours are 10:00 am to 7:00 pm every day (closed on Mondays). Admission: 6 Euros.

The Thyssen Museum is situated in the restored 18th century Palacio de Villahermosa near the Prado. Contains more than 800 paintings, sculptures, carvings and tapestries, ranging from primitive Flemish works to contemporary pieces. Among the highlights are works by Renoir, Durer and Van Eyck. From 9th of October til 6th of Jan 08 there is an Dürer and Cranach exposition, is very nice and i liked so much.

El Museo Thyssen está situado en el restaurado Palacio de Villahermosa del siglo XVIII en el conocido triangulo de los museos. Contiene mas de 800 pinturas, esculturas, tallas y tapices. Entre lo mas destacado se encunentran trabajos de Renoir, Durer and Van Eyck. Del 9 de Octubre hasta el 6 de Enero de 2008 hay una exposición de Dürer y Cranach que forma parte de la exposición temporal.

This museum exists in Madrid since about 15 years. The paintings previously were the private collection of Hans-Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza, later the personal collection of his wife, Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza was added. You should start on 2nd floor with paintings of the 14th and 15th century, like for example the portrait of Giovanna Tornabuoni by Ghirlandaio. On ground floor you find some vanguard modern paintings. Entrance fee was EUR 6. There is an extra fee if you want to see the current exhibitions, like right now Van Gogh and Richard Estes. The museum closes at 7 p.m, ticket counters sell tickets till 6:30 p.m. A visit to Thyssen-Bornemisza will take you about 2 hours!