European Ribbon

Introduction

Thyssen & Co

When was the last time you used escalator in Madrid? Have you noticed the ThyssenKrupp logo? Yes, it is the same Thyssen. It is the present-day successor to the former Thyssen & Co, founded in 1871 by the German industrialist and steel magnate August Thyssen and his father. August’s first independent company was an iron strip rolling mill established in Styrum near Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany. It was in the iron and steel industry that this powerful family built a business empire. On the other hand, at the beginning of the 20th century, August Thyssen acquired seven sculptural groups from his friend Auguste Rodin. Unlike his sons, the family patriarch did not amass any more significant art pieces, but the Rodin sculptures are considered the starting point of the family collection.

Baron Thyssen-Bornemisza

August-Heinrich, the son, inherited a passion for art. At first, he lived in Hungary, where he married Margita, the heiress of the powerful Hungarian Bornemisza de Kaszon family. Her father, Baron Gabor Bornemisza de Kaszon, who had no male descendant, adopted his son-in-law. From that moment on, August-Heinrich and his descendants would bear the name Thyssen-Bornemisza, with the hereditary noble title of baron, bestowed by Emperor Francis Joseph. Heinrich left Hungary during the communist revolution in 1919. After his father’s death in 1926, he inherited a part of the immense wealth. That allowed him to fully dedicate himself to his passion: collecting paintings by old masters. He gathered the most part of his collection during the 1920s.

Villa Favorita, Lugano

From 1936, the growing collection was housed in Villa Favorita. This was the name of the palace in Lugano, Switzerland, built especially for the baron. Only the host’s guests had the honor to admire it there. After the baron’s death in 1947, the collection was made available to the public. It was mostly taken over by his youngest son, Hans Heinrich. Hans managed to buy most of the paintings auctioned by his siblings, and over time added more. Initially, he focused mainly on the old masters, following his father’s preferences. From 1961, he created an independent collection of 19th and 20th century paintings, which today constitutes one of the greatest private collections.

In the 1980s, the size of the collection began to exceed the capabilities of the Villa Favorita palace. The baron unsuccessfully sought its expansion, and unable to obtain the appropriate permit, he began to consider moving it.

Villahermosa, Madrid

In that time, the collection had already been presented at temporary exhibitions, including twice in Spain. It was not a surprise, that Spain was one of the countries that initially proposed to Baron to lend it, and ultimately to buy it. Despite many travels and numerous dilemmas regarding the choice of location, he ultimately chose Madrid. This is undoubtedly also thanks to the fifth wife of Hans Heinrich, the well-known Spanish actress, beauty queen, and art lover, Carmen Cervera.

In 1988, the Spanish government offered the Villahermosa Palace as its headquarters. After its modernization and adaptation for new functions, artworks from Lugano were moved there. The museum was opened in 1992. Eight months later, in June 1993, an agreement was signed, resulting in the sale of the artworks to the Spanish state. The contract amount hovered around $350 million.

Visit

The Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum, located not far from 🔗 the Prado Museum and 🔗 the Queen Sofia Museum, form together the Golden Triangle of Art. At Thyssen you’ll encounter artworks rarely found elsewhere, including Rembrandt’s “Portrait with a Hat and Two Chains” and Monet’s “Thaw at Vetheuil”.  You’ll also come across artworks by El Greco, Rubens, van Gogh, and Dalí. A guided visit with an audioguide typically takes around 60 minutes.

The museum presents a permanent exhibition and temporary exhibitions, the current schedule of which can be checked 🌐 here. And if you run out of strength or time, or would like to visit this unique place again, we encourage you to take a 🌐 virtual walk. The museum not only provides access to works and their descriptions, but also reveals the interior of the former Vallhermosa Palace.

Planner

orientaton: The building is located on the corner of Paseo del Prado and Carrera de San Jerónimo. The entrance is from Paseo del Prado, through the patio with a statue of Baron Hans Heinrich von Thyssen-Bornemisza. You can download the 🌐 map and familiarize yourself with the building.

Tickets: at ticket counter or 🌐 on-line.  Free tickets e.g. Mondays and children up to 18.