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1961. An attempted robbery
José Manso Gómez, Textile and Panel Painting Conservator, 1953-19921961. An attempted robbery
José Manso Gómez, Textile and Panel Painting Conservator, 1953-1992
When they were busy with the refurbishing works, a man got in and climbed up the building. When he nearly reached the top he got caught on a stone part that jutted out and fell down to the ground. We found out because he started to cry out, "Mother, mother!" In his pocket they found a map showing where he was to get in, how to reach the works by Goya, how to remove the paintings, The Nude Maja and The Clothed Maja, and where he was supposed to deliver them. It was nearly midnight and the police only saw a few individuals running away quickly. They must have been waiting for him.
He began to work at the Museum as a carpenter and later, after a while as a gallery attendant, he joined the restoration workshop, carrying out carpentry work which was his specialty. His father also worked at the Museo Nacional del Prado and helped evacuate works of art during the Spanish Civil War.
Interview recorded on February 11, 2015
Interview index
7 / 15-
My father worked at the Prado Museum -
My initiation in woodwork -
Sotomayor proposed that I work in the halls and Sánchez Cantón transferred me to the atelier -
Fernando Álvarez de Sotomayor -
A treasure within a cabinet from Cuba -
1946. placement of a large work by Vicente López on the ceiling -
1961. An attempted robbery -
1994. The Holy Familiy by Sebastiano del Piombo, from the Cathedral of Burgos -
1974. The Portrait of Carmen Martínez-Bordiú, by Salvador Dalí -
Working as a joiner and restitching canvases -
Wooden support. Doing things my way -
Works have a life of their own and they look at you -
The impact of El Greco -
A lot of life in the work done, eight years at the atelier -
Visiting the Museum, before and after
- Included in themes
- Nights in the Museum
- Collective
- Restoration
- Chronology
- 1960-1970
- RDF
- RDF
Restoration
Rafael Alonso Alonso
Restorer, 1978-2016
María Teresa Dávila Álvarez
Restorer, 1982-2013
Rocío Dávila Álvarez
Restorer, 1974-2015