Treinta Obras Maestras de la Biblioteca Lázaro Galdiano: Rare Books Exhibition at Lázaro Galdiano Museum

This exceptional exhibition showcases approximately thirty representative works from the esteemed Biblioteca Lázaro Galdiano, focusing on rare medieval codices and other bibliophilic treasures. It highlights José Lázaro Galdiano's passion for these artistic and historical volumes, many of which will be displayed together for the first time.

The Fundación Lázaro Galdiano presents 'Treinta Obras Maestras de la Biblioteca Lázaro Galdiano,' an exhibition dedicated to José Lázaro Galdiano's profound admiration for exquisite and meticulously crafted codices. The exhibition, running from May 28 to September 7, 2025, will be held on the third floor of the Museo Lázaro Galdiano. It features around thirty exemplary pieces, gathered by Lázaro himself across Madrid, Paris, and New York, many of which will be exhibited together for the first time. The selection aims to showcase volumes that Lázaro considered objects of art from a bibliophile's perspective, those that constituted a museum in themselves, and works by artists he particularly favored. José Lázaro Galdiano viewed books not merely as instruments of study but as objets d'art worthy of prominent display in museums. His personal library, originally comprising 20,000 volumes, is a treasure trove of bibliographical jewels, including unique manuscripts, incunabula, illustrated books, and masterpieces of printing, all distinguished by their rarity, beauty, and exceptional preservation. The exhibition will feature highlights such as medieval codices like Flavio Josefo's 'Le antiquité Judaique' and the 'Livre des propiétes des choses,' a lavishly illustrated encyclopedic manuscript from the early 15th century. Among the collection of Books of Hours, the 'Libro de Horas de William Hastings,' a Flemish manuscript commissioned by William Hastings, Grand Chamberlain to Edward IV, will also be on view, offering a glimpse into the exquisite and thematically varied library, recognized as one of Europe's finest collections.

Admission to the exhibition is included with the general museum entry ticket. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM, with extended hours Tuesday to Friday from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Please refer to the museum's ticketing portal for specific entry details and booking information for general visits, which include access to temporary exhibitions like this one. No additional cost is required beyond the standard museum admission price to view this exhibition of masterpieces from the Lázaro Galdiano Library.