Voces del Prado

Miguel Zugaza. The great changes

George Bisacca, Restorer, 1985-What's on

In all of the enormous changes that have happened to the Prado … in a large part most of these things are due to Miguel Zugaza, I think. He was an extraordinary director for the Prado. His 15 years here, I think were the most stable in the entire history of the Museum. He’s a formidable presence, but he’s calm. He somehow instills this kind of tranquil feeling and he listens; he listens to you. He gives you his full attention. He makes you feel as though what you have to say is important. And then of course he knows incredibly well how to implement a change or institute a practice. His knowledge of the political mechanisms, and contacts, and so on … but he moves with a lightness of touch. He doesn’t force, he doesn’t push.