The Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza hosts from 28 June to 25 September 2011 a big exhibition of the work of Spanish artist Antonio López (born Tomelloso, 1936). A “must” if you happen to be in Madrid during the summer.
Day: July 14, 2011
OT: Poland Treasures and Art Collections
Begoña and I have been recently at the exhibition in the Palacio Real de Madrid: Poland Treasures and Art Collections. You can find more information HERE. A worthwhile visit if you happen to be in Madrid between 1 June and 4 September.
Some interesting points taken from the official guide :
- Poland once spanned a vast territory stretching from the Baltic Sea in the North to the Black Sea in the south. The Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were a single political entity: the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, also called the Republic of Two Nations.
- The eighteen century was marked by successive losses of territory to the neighbouring powers –Russia, Prussia and Austria– and finally, in 1795, by the tragic loss of its independence.
- The University of Krakow, the second oldest in Central Europe after Prague, was established in 1364. Alumni include the great Nicolaus Copernicus –the first edition of De revolvtionibus orbium coelestium, is shown here.
- The Polish monarchy was elective, not hereditary.
- The Polish Constitution of 3 May 1791, was the first modern charter of rights in Europe and the second in the world after that of the United States.
- Finally I can highlight, among the works on display, Rembrandt’s superb Girl in a Picture Frame and Leonardo da Vinci’s Lady with an Ermine, one of the few undisputed paintings by the great Italian master and one of the first modern portraits in the history of painting on account of its psychological depth.
A Crime is Afoot 