Joaquín Sorolla’s sun-drenched paintings are back in front of the public for the first time in two years, now that the first phase of a renovation at Madrid’s Sorolla Museum is complete, Smithsonian Magazine reports.
The museum grew out of the house and studio where the Valencian painter lived with his family from 1911 until his death in 1923, and it opened its doors in 1932. It holds the largest collection of his work anywhere, with 1,394 paintings and around 5,000 drawings, and a record 345,000 visitors in 2023 made the case for more space. The project, costing about €13 million, adds nearly 20,000 square feet, including new galleries, an auditorium and proper storage.
The first exhibition in the new rooms tells the story of the museum’s own architecture and runs until 10 January 2027. Its director says the museum will have “a new, expansive personality”. The historic house and studio stay closed while work continues there.
Source: Smithsonian Magazine