Voces del Prado

1970’s – 1980’s: Management and the Conservation Department

Francisco Manso Guerrero, Gallery attendant and Clerical Support, 1966-1991

The Director was there, together with the Assistant Director and someone else, who was also an Assistant Director, but in charge of works. There were three offices. When the Director called us the bell rang once, and you knew you had to go in. In the case of the Assistant Director, the bell rang twice. And for Mr. [Manuel Jorge] Aragoneses it rang three times. When Mr. Aragoneses rang, the girls laughed, because it rang quite frenetically. He was goodhearted but a bit excitable when he called you. There were also conservators such as Rocío Arnaéz, Matías Díaz Padrón and a few others. Later on, Manuela Mena also began to come to the Museum, but as a student; I don’t know how old she was, but that was around 1978. She was called Manolita. She went from one end to another very quickly with her notebook. We called her “Manolita”. Later on, we called her Manuela and, in the end, Doña Manuela. She had three names. At least for me.