Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya

The National Art Museum of Catalonia (català. Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya), abbreviated as MNAC, is a museum of Catalan visual art located in Barcelona, Catalonia. It is housed in the Palau Nacional, built for the 1929 World's Fair. Situated on the Montjuïc hill at the end of Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina, it was rehabilitated by the 1992 Summer Olympics.

The museum was created in 1990, when the Catalonian Museum Law reunited the collections of the former Museu d'Art de Catalunya (Catalonian Art Museum) and the Museu d'Art Modern (Modern Art Museum), and declared it the national museum. The new museum thus combined Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque art collections from the Museu d'Art de Catalunya with the 19th and 20th century art collections of the Museu d'Art Modern, and incorporated the Gabinet de Dibuixos i Gravats (Department of Drawings and Prints), the Gabinet Numismàtic de Catalunya (Catalonia Department of Numismatics; coinage and medals) and the Biblioteca d'Història de l'Art (Art History Library). In 1996, the Department of Photography was created.

The museum opened in 1995, with the Romanesque art section. The Gothic art section was opened on 1997, while the Renaissance, Baroque, 19th century and 20th century collections opened on 2000. The official opening, with the building completely rehabilitated and all the collections in place, was in 2004.

The original Museu d'Art de Catalunya was opened on 1934 on the same location as today, but was closed during the Spanish Civil War. It was reopened from 1940 to 1942. On 1945, the Modern Art Museum opened in the Arsenal of the Ciutadella park.

Since 2004, the MNAC accommodates works of the Thyssen-Bornemisza collection. The works were exposed in the Monastery of Pedralbes but it was decided to move them to facilitate the visits of the public. Paintings of the periods included between the Gothic period and the rococo are shown.

Sections

  • Romanesque art: This collection contains mainly Catalan art from the 11th-13th centuries (with some works pre-dating this period). The most significant part of this collection are the wall-paintings of Romanesque churches and chapels around Catalonia that have been transferred to the museum.
  • Gothic art: Catalan art from the 13th-15th centuries, along with some Italian art.
  • Renaissance and Baroque art: Spanish, Italian and Flemish art from the 16th-18th centuries. The collection was started with the local art and augmented mostly through donations, specially that of the Francesc Cambó collection.
  • Modern art: Catalan art from the 19th century and the first decades of the 20th century, including photography and the decorative arts. Notable are the works of Ramon Casas, Santiago Rusiñol, Isidre Nonell, Pau Gargallo and the modernist decorative arts of Antoni Gaudí. Picasso's Woman in Hat and Fur Collar can be found in this section, too.
  • Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection: A collection of works deposited by the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. It includes pieces from the Renaissance and Baroque. It also includes a collection of Catalan art belonging to the Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection, from the mid-19th century to the second half of the 20th century.
  • Department of Drawings and Prints: collection of drawings, prints and posters from the last 17th century to the historical avant-gardes.
  • Photography collection: Photographs from the XIX century to mid-1990s.
  • Numismatics collection: Coins, medals and paper money from VI BC to the present day. Outstanding is the collection of pieces from Catalonia and the neighbouring territories.

In popular culture

The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya is a featured locale in the 2009 video game Wheelman, published by Midway Games.

See also

  • List of museums in Barcelona

External links

Шаблон:Commonscat

Listed in the following categories:
Post a comment
Tips & Hints
Arrange By:
Remi Lefevre
26 August 2014
Well worth the short ascension: the view from the terrace is brilliant (best enjoyed w/ a beer)! The restaurant serves a correct lunch, and the entrance to the museum is free on Saturdays after 3pm.
Bubble
23 July 2014
Comfortable couches, free wifi and excellent architecture at the ground floor! Take the elevator to the roof for a great view. They redesign the Modernism section now, they only exhibit a few pieces.
Stacy Seah
25 April 2018
Visit the roof terrace for a panoramic view of the city. Follow the signage that says 'tour' near the stairwell. It leads to the roof terrace where u get.glimpses of castle Montjuic & Olympic stadium.
RAKAN
12 February 2023
Great building ???? beautiful architecture ✨Spectacular view from the above area during the sunset ???? the museum is free after 3 pm ????
Khrystal K. Davis
12 March 2016
We spent the day. The view outside the top of the museum was breathtaking. We enjoyed all the Catholic art the museum offered. The architecture of the museum is as good as the art, as a former palace.
Guillem Trilla
6 August 2014
Great collection, from 'Romanic' to 'modern art'. Beautiful museum, delicately designed and with great city views (getting up to the rooftoop is a must!). You won't regret it!
Load more comments
foursquare.com
8.9/10
Nikolay Afrin, Carlos Z and 307,507 more people have been here
Map
Avinguda dels Montanyans, 41, 08038 Barcelona, Spain Get directions
Tue-Sat 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Sun 10:00 AM–3:00 PM

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC) on Foursquare

Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya on Facebook

Hotels nearby

See all hotels See all
Cram Hotel

starting $242

Uma Suites Luxury Midtown

starting $197

Hostal Barcelona Travel

starting $123

Sweet Inn Apartment - Aragon

starting $148

Casa del Mediterraneo

starting $0

Casa Kessler Barcelona Hostel

starting $26

Recommended sights nearby

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Montjuïc circuit

Events = Formula One Spanish Grand Prix Penya Rhin Grand Prix

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Magic Fountain of Montjuïc

The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc (català. Font màgica de Montjuïc, esp

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys

Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys (formerly known as the Estadi Olímpic de

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Barcelona Pavilion

The Barcelona Pavilion, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, was the

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Fundació Joan Miró

The Fundació Joan Miró, Centre d'Estudis d'Art Contemporani (Joan M

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Montjuic Communications Tower

The Montjuic Communications Tower (Torre Telefónica) is a

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Montjuïc

Montjuïc (muŋʒuík, alternatively spelled Montjuic or Montjuich) is a h

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Poble Espanyol

The Spanish Town (Catalan: Poble espanyol; Spanish: Pueblo español)

Similar tourist attractions

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Museo Nacional de Arte

The Museo Nacional de Arte (MUNAL) (English. National Museum of Art)

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is among the largest art museums in the

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
The Cloisters

The Cloisters is the branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
James Simon Gallery

The James Simon Gallery will be a new, centrally located visitor

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Tokyo National Museum

The Tokyo National Museum (東京国立博物館, Tōkyō Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan),

See all similar places