Voces del Prado

A neglected museum up until the first Aznar government in 1996

Francisco Calvo Serraller, Museum Director, 1993-1994

In principle, people felt very proud of the Museo del Prado, especially due to the interest shown by foreigners. But the reality is that, almost up until the end of the twentieth century, the Museum was neglected in almost every aspect. Spaniards only visited the Museum in small numbers, whilst the attitude of the governments and the State hadn’t really changed between the 19th century and the 1990’s. It hadn’t changed because the Pardo was a heraldic venue. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs or some other ministry might suddenly demand that everything was organized for an official visit, because it was unthinkable to visit Spain and Madrid without seeing the Museo del Prado, but they wouldn’t provide the slightest help.
Negligence, lack of attention, lack of responsibility. It’s paradoxical that you can be part of an institution that, on the surface, everyone respects, but which nobody respects in a material sense. This is completely disheartening. This combination of importance and disregard at the same time is painful to behold.
My period as Head of the Prado happened to coincide with the 175th Anniversary of the Museum. I saw this as an opportunity to attract attention to the Museum with practically no means whatsoever. I didn’t receive the slightest support, and not just on the part of the Ministry either. Given that it was the 175th Anniversary, I thought about the possibility of a special issue of stamps, one that might bring in some extra funds. But the idea was rejected. Any initiative I proposed that might materially benefit the Museum was turned down. It was completely disheartening. And thus, we were extraordinarily backward compared to other museums, especially when you consider how important the Prado is today.
I believe this has all changed; not in my day, but starting with the first Aznar Government. Without having any kind of ideological or personal connection with the Government, it was the first Prime Minister who really showed interest in the Museum. That is to say, the Director at the time, Fernando Checa, and the Chairman, José Antonio Fernández Ordóñez, were given everything they asked for. A model was established that was later continued, one in which the Prado not only became an instrument of politics or diplomacy, but much, much more.