The Artist in Italy: Tracing Spanish Painters' 19th-Century Journeys and Artistic Training in Rome

This temporary exhibition explores the artistic learning journeys of Spanish artists Federico de Madrazo, Luis de Madrazo, and Vicente Palmaroli in mid-19th-century Italy. Through their drawings, the exhibition reveals their studies of ancient Roman, medieval, and Renaissance art, as well as their depictions of local Italian types and costumbrismo.

"The Artist in Italy" delves into the formative experiences of Spanish painters Federico de Madrazo (1815-1894), Luis de Madrazo (1825-1897), and Vicente Palmaroli (1834-1896) during their learning travels to Italy in the mid-19th century, prior to the establishment of the Spanish Academy in Rome. The exhibition showcases drawings from the collection of the Museo Nacional del Romanticismo that highlight how these artists approached their studies of Italian art, from classical antiquity to the Renaissance, and sought to emulate masters like Michelangelo, Raphael, and Giotto. The exhibition also captures the visual culture of Italy through the eyes of these artists, focusing on local popular types depicted with a picturesque and costumbrista sensibility that was highly appreciated at the time. These drawings, which rapidly circulated through print collections, show students at various academies and the local peasant women who posed, particularly in the area of Piazza de Spagna, offering a glimpse into both artistic training and everyday life in Rome during that period.

Access is free with the museum entry ticket. The museum is closed on Mondays. Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 AM to 8:30 PM, and Sundays and holidays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Guided tours are free with limited capacity and require a reservation, with dates to be announced.