Madrid is the perfect city to really immerse yourself in art. Spain’s capital city is home to the best art galleries in the world. Perhaps the grand and spectacular Museo Nacional de Prado is the first that comes to mind. Along with visiting the superb collections at the Prado and the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, I also went to the Sorolla Museum on my recent visit to Madrid.
I have to admit, I didn’t know much about Joaquín Sorolla until I was introduced to his Chicos en la playa (Boys on the Beach) at the Prado. I’d just borne witness to Francisco Goya’s black paintings, and Sorolla’s Chicos en la playa was the perfect antidote to the bleak and disturbing themes in Goya’s works. Sorolla’s depiction of boys lying in the sand captures the innocence of youth and the simple pleasure of being at the beach on a sunny day. It’s a truly heart-warming painting.
Above: Sorolla’s Chicos en la playa, Museo del Prado.
I really admired Sorolla’s artistic style and I started to look up more about him when I got back to my hotel. When I found out that his former family house, in the upmarket Chamberì district, is a museum featuring many his works, I decided to go. And I’m thrilled that I did. If you enjoy art and history, I think a visit here should be up there on your list of things to do in Madrid.
Opening in 1932, the Sorolla (pronounced: “Soroya”) Museum is a beautifully curated house-museum which contains many of Sorolla’s paintings which were bequeathed to the state of Madrid by his family after he died. The museum maintains the ambience of how the Sorolla family lived, with many of their lovely objets d’art and photographs still in place. It really does feel like you’re stepping into their family home as a guest. The garden surrounding the house is tranquil and serene.
Above: The garden at Museo Sorolla
Sorolla, who lived between 1863 and 1923, is best described as an Impressionist and a Luminist artist. I’m familiar mostly with the French Impressionists, so it was a new learning experience for me to see so many of Sorolla’s artworks in one space. Sorolla excelled at painting outdoors and capturing sunlight. In fact, he was known as the “master of light” due to his iridescent canvases. This is the main aspect I loved about Sorolla’s works – how he managed to capture the light on people’s faces and bodies.
Many of the works in the Sorolla Museum are touching portraits of his wife and three children. To me, it highlights Sorolla’s pure adoration for his family. Also present are his paintings of vivid seascapes and garden views. In my opinion, coming here is a fantastic and uplifting experience.
Above: Paintings within the Museo Sorolla.
When and how to visit:
Tickets are only 3 euros per person, so it’s a really affordable way to experience a beautiful collection of Spanish Impressionist paintings by the “master of light” himself.
To book online go here: https://museosorolla.sacatuentrada.es/en/entradas/museo-sorolla
You can also buy a ticket onsite (which I did). My tip: try and get there early to avoid long queues.