My name is José Luis Díez. I came to the Museo del Prado in 1988 as a curator for nineteenth century paintings. I joined the Museum when I was 27 years old, having passed my State-run exams two years earlier. My first position was at the Spanish Museum of Contemporary Art (MEAC) and then, later on, I was appointed as a curator at the Museo del Prado, in 1988. Since then I have been responsible for the collections of nineteenth century paintings, although in 2002 I was appointed Assistant Director of Conservation. In 2006 I returned to my post as Head of the Conservation Department for Nineteenth Century Works. This was until 2014, the year in which I left the Museum on leave of absence in order to occupy the post of Head of the National Heritage Royal Collections, a position I still hold today. In this respect, I have spent twenty-six consecutive years of my life at the Museo del Prado.
Head of the Department of Conservation, pertaining to the Department of the 19th Century. He was the Head of the Department of 19th Century Art from 1992 to 2002. He was appointed General Assistant Director of Conservation in 2002 and held that position until 2006. He has been the Director of the Spanish National Heritage Royal Collections since 2014.
Interview recorded on May 23, 2018