There are many famous art museums in Spain: the Prado and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Gallery in Madrid, the Picasso Museums in Malaga, and the Dali Museum in Figueres. The disadvantage of the first two museums is the long queues, and the second two are their narrow specialization. Therefore, if you are trying to introduce children to art, we recommend visiting the Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia with them. His collection includes paintings by El Greco, Velazquez, Goya, and famous Valencian artists. And you can see these treasures for free.
Museo de Bellas Artes de Valencia is located in an old building reminiscent of a medieval castle. The interiors are reserved and simple: it emphasizes that the principal value of the museum is paintings and sculptures. In the halls, you will see paintings of the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries, Renaissance works, paintings of the 17th-18th and 19th-20th centuries, a collection of drawings and engravings, a collection of modern art, as well as archaeological finds and works of arts and crafts.
The exhibition comprises two floors:
- The ground floor is dedicated to altarpieces and religious paintings;
- On the second floor, you can admire masterpieces by Diego Velázquez, Francisco de Goya, Juan de Valdés, José de Ribera, Bartolomé Murillo, Joaquín Sorolla, El Greco and other artists.
What might interest a child on this excursion in Valencia? Perhaps he will be attracted by strict Gothic iconostases, especially if some of the subjects are familiar: the adoration of the Magi. Someone will be interested in portraits of military leaders or noble ladies. Often children pay attention to the pictures which depict their peers.
Isn't it possible to call the children of the characters in the painting Grupa Valenciana, painted by the famous Valencian painter Joaquín Sorolla? One can only guess what kind of holiday the painting depicts if even the horse is dressed up for it.
You'll probably want to see the masterpieces of the Valencian Museum of Fine Arts. These include El Greco's John the Baptist, a self-portrait by Diego Velázquez, and works by José de Ribera, Bartolomé Murillo, Antonis van Dyck, Pieter Brueghel (the Younger) and Jan van Goyen. A particular pride of the museum is a painting by Pinturicchio, an Italian Renaissance painter.
The gallery also houses a collection of engravings by Giovanni Piranesi. However, these can only be seen during themed exhibitions, as these works require special storage conditions.
Interestingly, one of the directors of the Museum of Fine Arts in Valencia was González Martí, a famous collector of ceramics and antiquities who was responsible for the opening of the National Museum of Ceramics in the city. Perhaps this tour will induce a feeling of harmony and serenity. To keep it that way, continue the day with a stroll through the gardens of the River Turia, which are close to the museum.
