Although we saw and did many things during our recent visit to Barcelona, this museum was the highlight of the trip for me.
~Practical information~
**************************
The museum is open Tuesday to Friday, 10 am to 8 pm.
Entry costs € 6 or € 8.50 if you choose to see the temporary ... Read review
NH Hotels, the hotel chain leader in Europe, with more than 300 hotels in 20 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. Enter into our web site and find the best available tariff at all times
Advantages: An overview of the artist's work. Disadvantages: Don't expect to see the famous Guernica, it's in Madrid!
...This museum will perhaps make you want to see more of Picasso's works. You could always have a meal at Els Quatre Gats (the 4 cats), where he used to hang out with his contemporaries, or visit the museu de ceràmica which houses 16 pieces.
The museum is open Tuesday to Friday, 10 am to 8 pm. Entry costs € 6 or € 8.50 if you choose to see the temporary exhibition as well. You can get in half-price to the main museum if you have the Barcelona card (public transport card). You can get in free on the first Sunday of the month, but I suspect it would be very busy then. Perhaps this opportunity should be left for the people of Barcelona to enjoy, as they probably already pay for the upkeep of this museum through their local taxes. This museum has a lift and wheelchairs available for people with limited mobility. Website: http://www.museupicasso.bcn.es/eng/index_eng.htm
~The museum itself~ ************************
The buildings the collection is housed in are remarkable in their own right. The La Ribera district is one of the oldest in the city and is enjoying a bit of a revival at the moment. It conceals many places of interest, and in the Carrer de Montcada you can find the five beautiful mediaeval palaces that make up the museum. These are very fine example of the architecture of the 13th and 14th centuries, beautifully renovated and joined together. They reminded me a bit of Italy (well, I've never been, but that's how I imagine Italy to be…). Remember to look up from time to time during the visit to admire the original painted ceilings. If you want to know more about the history of the houses and the people who lived there, there is a lot of information on the museum website.
~The collection~ *******************
Works by Picasso are present in museums all over the world. In fact, so prolific was he as an artist that there is more than one Picasso museum. I haven't visited any of the others, but what makes this one special for me is that many of the works on display were donated by Picasso himself, by his wife and one of his friends. Picasso was born in Málaga in 1881 but the family moved to Barcelona when he was 10, and despite having left for Paris in 1904 after several visits to the French capital, the Catalan city remained dear to his heart.
The other nice thing about the collection is the progression through Picasso's work, aptly starting with a brilliant set of his early work, which is very relevant as most of it was painted in Barcelona. There is a huge variety of works from this period, from portrait to landscape through to newspaper-style caricatures and touchingly some of the artist's sketch-books. It makes you realise just how immense and precocious the genius of the man was. One painting in particular stays in my mind, the man in a beret, painted in 1895 (picture 1 below). Go and look at it and then do the sum… That's right, he painted this when he was only 14 years old! The technical expertise is astounding, but most of all it is such a mature work. Two other noteworthy paintings are a portrait of his mother and the beach at Barceloneta.
The visit then takes you to works from his blue period, painted during a difficult time in the still young man's life. The material difficulties he experienced, far from his family, as well as the suicide of his friend Carles Casagemas, have been seen as the underlying reason to the melancholic quality of his work. Some of it may seem a little sentimental even, but he was only a young man when he painted this. (See an example in picture 2)
So far, so good, but perhaps a little predictable. Until you come to what has to be the real high spot of this museum. In 1957, Picasso donated a series of paintings, 58 in total, inspired by the famous Velázquez painting of the same name (picture 3). A great admirer of Velázquez, Picasso set about interpreting Las Meninas in his own unique manner. The series comprises an extraordinary monochrome painting of the whole scene (picture 4), as well as smaller paintings of parts of the original painting (picture 5). Before you enter the room where these paintings are, you will have the opportunity to watch a short audio-visual presentation comparing Picasso's work with the original. This is done beautifully and I recommend you spend a little time looking at that, as it will help you understand and appreciate Picasso' work.
There is also a set of frankly pornographic drawings by Picasso, more novelty value than artistic, although a school-group of teenagers seemed to find them highly instructive!
Picasso's widow, Jacqueline, donated a set of beautiful and sometimes amusing ceramics. Picasso was indeed multi-talented, and these are really amazing. Many of them are plates, but with the food already on! (Picture 6)
~My overall feeling~ **********************
If you like Picasso and find yourself in Barcelona, you MUST go and visit this museum. If you are not a big fan, I think you would still enjoy the visit, if only to check out the museum buildings. The works presented here are extremely varied, and you are almost guaranteed to see something you like. And, who knows, you might even be won over by this energetic and joyful collection.
~Other Picasso related visits~ *********************************
This museum will perhaps make you want to see more of Picasso's works. You could always have a meal at Els Quatre Gats (the 4 cats), where he used to hang out with his contemporaries, or visit the museu de ceràmica which houses 16 pieces.
Advantages: Joy & Humour! Disadvantages: Joy & Humour!
Pablo Picasso Museum, It is a tourist spot and I thought I could have passed it. I was staying in Gothic Point hostel. it is just a minute away from the museum. so one lazy afternoon, i went there to check it out. The area is very bohemia, the museum lies in a narrow brick street.
to my surprise, it is pretty compact and the collection is interesting. I enjoy the ceramic done by Picasso. He has very good imagination. He draws all the things he wanted ... ...from fish, squid, cow, and some other animals. And thus all the empty containers become so extra-ordinary. The other interesting exhibit is the Le Menines painting. Picasso drew his own version of the painting. It became so dramatic and funny. The original painting is classical oil painting. But picasso adds a lot of humour to the painting and played around with each characters. There are over 20 of this theme. I was astonished to find out that there ...
heeheehaahaa 05.07.2005
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Museu Picasso
Advantages: Great collection of the artist's work, excellent setting with plenty of character, superb atmosphere, good and reasonable shop, accompanying exhibitions featuring other artists. Disadvantages: Hard to fault!
The Picasso Museum in Barcelona is the best collection of the artist's work in the world and is actually one of the houses that he lived in. He spent his youth there, but only recently has the museum been created in recognition of his achievements. As you move through the galleries you will be amazed at the talent this genius possessed, even at a startlingly young age. Somehow, the setting delivers a more intimate connection to the artworks, which ... ...also includes an excellent shop with a wealth of reasonable goodies, and also plays host to accompanying exhibitions, often from artists of a similar style. Basically, even if you are not into Picasso, you will come away quite breath-taken at the raw talent he exhibited throughout his life. It is an eye-opener indeed, truly hard to fault, even if you have only a passing interest in the arts! ...
caruby69 25.07.2000
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Museu Picasso
Advantages: Early works Disadvantages: Few later/famous works
The first thing that struck me about the Picasso Museum in Barcelona was its stunning location. Set in a small side street in the old town surrounded by arts and craft shops I gained just as much from exploring the area as going round the museum itself. The museum is housed in an old medieval palace which certainly helps create a period atmosphere. The advantage of this collection is the large number of early drawings and sketches by Picasso on display. ...
penny66 26.06.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Museu Picasso
Prices
Transport links
Similar reviews »
Reviews which might be of interest for "Museu Picasso"
Barcelona, voted the worlds best city is situated on the North East of Spain, sitting lively on the mediteranean sea. Although my visit to the Capital of Catalunya was short, I saw the best places of Barcelona on the top of a double-decker bus.
The buildings are beautifull and are extremely detailed. Architects and artists galore! The most fabulous landmark I saw was definately "La Sagrada Familia". This is a massive gothic cathedral which is the work of Antoni Gaudi. It has been under construction since 1882, and is most definately the most popular museums in Barcelona.
Antoni Gaudi's work is proved to be very popular with tourists!
An attraction I would have liked to visit but unfortunately ran out of time too see was the "MuseuPicasso". This museum is the most popular art gallery in Barcelona. It is home to a very ...
Advantages: A great way to take in almost everything the city has to offer. Disadvantages: You will look like a right tourist!
could express his poetic universe through a huge variety of media, painting, sculpture, ceramic, tapestry?
<%> La Ribera district, with the beautiful church of Santa Maria del Mar, a fine example of Catalan Gothic architecture, and the MuseuPicasso, a must-see.
<%> The Barri Gòtic, the cradle of the city of Barcelona, with a wealth of Roman remains.
~The red route~
******************
<%> This route takes you past several buildings by Antoni Gaudí, a modernista architect (the movement known as Art Nouveau elsewhere), and Barcelona's most famous son after Picasso. Barcelona could be called Gaudi city, so numerous are his legacies and so representative of the city. The high vantage point is a huge bonus to see some of the landmarks, such as the Sagrada Família (or 'Sangria Familia', as we overheard one tourist call it ...
Advantages: Breathtaking views and scenery Disadvantages: Can get crowded
the whole experience making it a much more moving religious experience. It sounded wonderful and the entirely male choir of young boys produced a great performance. This only happens once a day so it is important to be there a good twenty minutes before hand to ensure you get in on busy days.
The only other building that is open to the public is the Museu de Montserrat which has an interesting collection of paintings and sculptures including work by Dali, Degas, Caravaggio as well as Picasso. There is of course a history of the monastery which has certainly seen a few periods of strife as well as a few religious artefacts and archaeological finds, it is worth a visit and the entrance fee of 6 euro was good value.
Having completed my visit to the monastery I decided to purchase some lunch from the supermarket in the form of some bread ...
