The Bank of Spain has unveiled a new permanent exhibition space that from 14 October to 30 April will house an exhibition exploring the origins of its art collection linked to Goya. The exhibition examines how the Bank’s artistic assets and heritage were compiled between 1782 and the first years of the bank, and how these beginnings conditioned the evolution of the collection.

This vast array of artistic works that make up the core of the Bank of Spain’s Collection, has not been on public display since 1982. This new exhibition is a unique opportunity to explore the origins of this artistic collection, one of the most important in the country and of any central bank.

Curated by Yolanda Romero and Manuela Mena, the exhibition looks at the role played by the predecessor banks in the creation of this artistic legacy, through the collection of paintings commissioned or acquired during the historical period analysed and the documents, books, prints and banknotes from the Historical Archive and the Bank of Spain’s Library. The exhibition also features paintings from the portrait gallery including depictions of directors, governors, members of the royal family, and other figures linked to the history of the institution. Other items from the decorative arts collection such as watches, furniture, and silverware will also be on display.

The Bank of Spain’s Collection features masterpieces by the finest artists of each artistic period such as Francisco de Goya, Cornelis van Cleve, Mariano Salvador Maella, Giacomo Zoffoli, Pietro Melchiorre Ferrari, Francisco Folch de Cardona, Agustín Esteve y Marqués, Bartolomé Maura y Montaner, Zacarias González Velázquez, Antonio María Esquivel, Vicente López Portaña, Federico de Madrazo, José Gutiérrez de la Vega y Bocanegra and Benito Soriano Murillo.

The name of the exhibition, 2328 reales de vellón, refers to the amount of money paid to Goya for the first portrait commissioned for the Bank, a figure entered in an accounts ledger of the time, which is also on display for the first time.

Image credits:

• Francisco de Goya y Lucientes. Francisco Javier de Larumbe y Rodríguez
• Cornelis van Cleve and Our Lady of the Lily, c. 1550
• Mariano Salvador Maella (workshop). Charles III with armour, 1783
• Francisco de Goya y Lucientes. José Moñino y Redondo, I Count of Floridablanca, 1783
• Mariano Salvador Maella (workshop). Maria Luisa de Parma, Princess of Asturias, 1783
• José Gutiérrez de la Vega y Bocanegra. Ramón de Santillán González
• Pietro Melchiorre Ferrari Miguel de Torres y Ruiz de Rivera, III Marquis of Matallana, 1785