The third point of the Golden Triangle of Art of Madrid is the Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Museum. The Thyssen-Bornemisza is different than its two renowned neighbors for numerous reasons.
First, the Thyssen has no focus per say. Instead it offers some of the world’s greatest art from the last eight hundred years at random. This is because the Thyssen-Bornemisza was originally a private collection (one of the largest in the world) of the Thyssen Bornemisza family.
The museum was made official in 1992. It is open Tuesday through Sunday and is closed every Monday. It opens at ten in the morning and closes at seven in the evening. Admission is nine Euros, however the discounted price of six Euros is available for many including students, elderly people and many others.
Beginning after the first World War, Heinrich, Baron Thyssen-Bornemisza began collecting artwork from around Europe and continued to expand his compilation for decades. His son continued this tradition, gathering art for extended family and other collections around Europe until they had acquired one of the most impressive private collections in the world.
In 1993, the Spanish government bought a large part of this collection, with the remaining section still privately owned, but on display nonetheless.
The Thyssen-Bornemisza includes works from some of the most influential painters in our history.
Early painters on display include Duccio, Jan Van Eyck, Albrecht Durer, Vittore Carpaccio, Caravaggio and Rembrandt. Perhaps even more appealing is their vast collection of impressionist and post-impressionist artwork from the twentieth century including Paul Gauguin, Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas and Piet Mondrian.
The Monets on display include Charing Cross Bridge and the House among the Roses.
The most famous painting in the gallery may be Portrait of a Knight by Carpaccio.
