Lázaro Galdiano Museum

Lázaro Galdiano Museum
Museo Lázaro Galdiano
	Façade of the museum
Established	27 January 1951
Location	Calle de Serrano 122, Madrid, Spain
Coordinates	40°26′12.880″N 3°41′9.053″W / 40.43691111°N 3.68584806°W
Type	Art museum
Architectural style(s)	Neo-Renaissance
Spanish Cultural Heritage
Official name	Museo Lázaro Galdiano
Type	Non-movable
Criteria	Monument
Designated	1962
Reference no.	RI-51-0001380

The Lázaro Galdiano Museum (Spanish: Museo Lázaro Galdiano) is an art museum in Madrid, Spain. It houses the art collection of José Lázaro Galdiano. The museum was inaugurated on 27 January 1951.

History

The palatial building was constructed in 1903 as the residence of Lázaro Galdiano and his wife and is set within grounds that also hold the library containing Galdiano's important collection of incunabula and manuscripts. The conversion to a museum has respected the original interiors, which feature elaborate baroque painted ceilings commissioned by Galdiano,

As he died in 1947, Galdiano bequeathed his entire personal collection of over 12,000 items to the Spanish State.^[1]

Following the creation of the Fundación Lázaro Galdiano [es] in 1948, and refurbishment works in the building led by Fernando Chueca Goitia [es], the museum was inaugurated on 27 January 1951.^[1]

The building was declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1962.^{[citation needed]}

Collection

The museum contains important collections of valuable works from the prehistoric period to the nineteenth century, with a focus on Iberian work. Major categories include jewellery, small bronzes, both ecclesiastical and domestic silver, ceramics, carved ivory, and numismatics. Objects come not only from Iberia but also from major centers of medieval artistry, including Limoges and Egypt. While the Renaissance is especially well represented, the collection features important early medieval objects, including Visigothic work, and works crafted by Iberia's ancient Celtic culture.