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The Academy houses an important museum,
reopened in 1986, which contains more than 1,400 paintings, 600
sculptures and 15,000 drawings, as well as an outstanding collection of
decorative arts.
The permanent collection includes masterpieces of
Spanish, Italian and Flemish art. Goya was a member of the Academy
from 1780 onwards, and the Museum holds 13 of his paintings, including
two Self-portraits, the Bullfight, the portraits of Moratín,
Juan de Villanueva and the actress La Tirana, and the
famous carnival scene known as the Burial of the Sardine. Among
other works in the Museum’s permanent collection are the Agnus Dei
and Mercedarian Friars by Zurbarán; a Mary Magdalene
by Ribera, signed
in 1636; the only painting by Arcimboldo held in Spain; the Riva
degli Schiavoni in Venice, signed by Leandro Bassano; the
splendid Knight’s Dream by Pereda; the Old Testament scene
of Susannah and the Elders by Rubens; the Marquesa de
Llano by Mengs; and the Venus, Mercury and Cupid, painted by Van Loo in
1748. The 19th century in Spanish art is represented by a series of
portraits by Vicente López,
the magnificent portrait of Manuel
Godoy, Prince of the Peace by José
de Madrazo or the Portrait of
Isabel II by Federico de
Madrazo. Other movements, such as the Romanticism of Esquivel, are also represented,
as well as other genres, such as the landscape paintings of Haes.
The 20th century is worthy of special
attention, since it presents us with the work of modern members of the
Academy, thus providing us with a general overview of contemporary art.
In this way, all the artistic movements of the 20th century can be
followed, from works by Sorolla
and Cecilio Plá, the
regionalism of Sotomayor,
portraits by Vázquez Díaz, and
landscapes by Benjamín Palencia
and Lozano, through to the
modern avant-garde movements.
The Museum also has on display an
important collection of casts, such as the Gate of Paradise after Ghiberti,
and many sculptures that allows us to follow the development of Spanish
sculpture from the 17th century until today, through such extremely fine
works as the Saint Bruno by Manuel Pereira or the Mater Dolorosa by Pedro de Mena; the portrait
reliefs of Ferdinand VI and his queen Bárbara de Braganza by Gian Domenico Olivieri; the Portrait of Alfonso Clemente de
Aróstegui by Felipe de Castro;
Philip V on Horseback by Roberto Michel and Philip V on Horseback by Manuel Francisco Álvarez de la Peña;
the series on the Massacre of the
Innocents produced by José Ginés for Charles IV; the Portrait of Antonio
Teixeira Lopes by Mariano
Benlliure y Gil; Sensitiva by Miguel Blay; Head of a Woman by Picasso; and Academia by Pablo Gargallo.
The gallery rooms also display fine works
purchased through the Guitarte Bequest. These include the Vanitas
by Michel Bouillon,
executed in 1668; the Self-portrait
of Francisco Bayeu; the magnificent Still Life with Lemons by
Juan de Zurbarán; the Head of Apollo attributed to Thorwaldsen;
the Painter in his Studio by Magnasco; Cubist painting such
as the Still Life with Fruit Bowl, Bottle and Newspaper by Juan
Gris; and part of the collection of drawings by Picasso from
the Suite Vollard.
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