Spring 1999

CULTURAL EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS IN MADRID

EL GRECO, IDENTITY AND TRANSFORMATION

The works on display come from the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Real Monasterio, El Escorial, The Prado Museum, Benaki Museum, Athens and many more. The works are devoted to El Greco and span the artists career between 1560 until the year of his death. For the first time in Spain, the exhibition opens with a group of paintings by Cretan artists working at the same time as the young El Greco.

The chronological presentation of the exhibition should permit an in-depth understanding of El Greco's artistic identity. This section emphasises the importance of his training and post-Byzantine artistic heritage and includes paintings executed in tempra, on panel, such as Saint Luke painting the Virgen . His assimilation of the western artistic idiom, initially through his knowledge of engravings while he was still in Crete, was developed in the paintings which he made in Italy during his years in Venice and Rome. The exhibition also emphasises this TRANSFORMATION by grouping together works devoted to a number of themes which El Greco repeated throughout his career.
MUSEO THYSSEN-BORNEMISZA Paseo del Prado, email mtb@museothyssen.org

MARC CHAGALL EXHIBITION

Madrid is really alive with some of the best art exhibitions on show in all of Europe. The Juan March Foundation has put on a magnificent exhibition of Marc Chagall titled Jewish Traditions. There are 41 of his works to be seen starting with a portrait of his future wife 'Fiancee with Black Gloves' dated 1909. His 'Marriage' painted in 1944 shows his undying love for the woman of his whole life.
Fundacion Juan March Calle Castello, 77, 28006 Madrid. 15 January to 11 April. Mon - Sat 10 - 2pm 5.30pm - 9pm Sun. 10 - 2pm. Entrance free.

GUIDED TOURS TO THE LESSER KNOWN MUSEUMS IN MADRID

The Society's historians present regular guided tours to the capital's lesser known museums. Most weekends we offer to small groups private tours to the magnificent Naval Museum (Paseo del Prado, 5). The museum is actually housed on the ground floor in a part of the imposing Admiralty Building. The museum exhibits, in chronological order, the most important historical pieces owned and procured by the Spanish Navy from the period of the Catholic Monarchs of the late 15th century to the present day. Paintings portraying vessels and historical battles, portraits of the most distinguished kings, sailors and Navy chiefs from the 17th century to the late 20th century. models of ships, weapons from different periods and personal objects from famous navigators are all on show. The new shop offers posters, maps, books, postcards and gifts. For private tours please contact us.

PLACES TO VISIT AROUND MADRID

TALAVERA - historical home of the ceramic industry with quaint shops and ceramic museum. Close by is the medieval town & castle of OROPESA.

AVILA - this great walled city with its magnificent cathedral, plazas and Santa Teresa's house is a mere hour's drive from the capital.

CACERES - great medieval city with splendid architecture to prove it is sadly ignored by tourists. A great shame!

CHINCHON - half hour drive from Madrid with ancient wine caves and a plaza still used each season for bull-fights. While here try the famous Chincon Anis!

SEGOVIA - Breath-taking Roman aqueduct, magnificent Alcazar and famous for its roast suckling pig!

SALAMANCA - oldest university city which boasts the finest plaza mayor in all of Spain.

TOLEDO - with Moorish, Jewish & Christian Quarters and the most awesome cathedral in all of Christendom!

For train, bus & hotel information plus our own guided tours please contact us.

CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

The Wellington Society along with the Spanish Civil War Society is planning a three day, two night "Campaign" through the Kingdom of Aragon, visiting both Peninsular War & Spanish Civil War sites.

Thomas D. Entwistle and our own Chairman, Stephen Drake-Jones, will be the guides as we explore Marshal Suchet's campaigns and the battles fought during the 1936-1939 Civil War. Our private bus departs from central Madrid at 8.30am on FRIDAY, 16 APRIL. We shall first stop at the town of Fuendtodo, Goya's birth place. We shall visit the great artist's house before moving on to BELCHITE to tour the ruins of a town that witnessed fighting here in in 1809 & then over a hundred and twenty years later. After the War Franco decreed that the place should remain in ruin as a reminder of the horrors of the Spanish Civil War, the new town being built close by. Lunch will be in the historical village of Quinto. Our overnight stay will be in the delightful town at Alcan~iz. Visit to the castle which Napoleon's soldiers failed to take and other relevant sites. We then journey to Candesa where we will learn more about the Battle of the Ebro and indeed follow part of the Spanish Republicans' Retreat following their failure to defeat Franco's forces. Candesa will be our second overnight stop. On Sunday morning we will spend time covering the famous battlefield. After lunch we will head directly back to Madrid on the highway arriving there at approximately 10pm.

For more information and price please contact us on Chairman@Wellsoc.org

Hotels in Central Madrid Recommended by Members of the Society

Information on Request.