Often considered a neo-Impressionist,
Valencia-born Joaquín Sorolla was really an exponent of 'luminism', the celebration of light. He was renowned for his iridescent, sun-drenched paintings, including portraits and family scenes at the beach and in gardens. Sorolla's leisured themes and greetings-card-esque (and indeed they are often used as such), aesthetic are easy to dismiss, but most find his luminous world at least a little seductive.
This delightful little Sorolla Museum, housed in the mansion built for the artist in 1910 to spend his latter years, has been recently restored and boasts 250 works. The works are exhibited on the main floor of the Sorolla Museum, in his former studio areas. The salon of the Sorolla Museum, dining room and breakfast room are furnished in their original state with the artist's eclectic decorative influence in evidence.
The garden of the Sorolla Museum, Moorish-inspired but with an Italianate pergola, is a delightful, peaceful oasis of calm, seemingly miles away from the roaring traffic outside.
Address Paseo del General Martínez Campos 37
Transport Metro Gregorio Marañón or Iglesia .
Telephone 91 310 15 84
Open 9.30am-3pm Tue, Thur, Fri; 9.30am-6pm Wed; 10am-3pm Sat, Sun.
Admission €2.40; €1.20 concessions. Free to all Sun.
