Voces del Prado

My Experience with Don Xavier de Salas

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

I don’t know how well don Xavier de Salas ran the Museum. But as a person, for me he was the best; he treated me really well. When he arrived, the first thing he would do is lay his hand on my shoulder and say, “how’s it going, Manso?” He even told me a few things. It was also fine under all the other Directors; I have no complaints about any of them. But I was never as friendly with them as I was with him. I recall that, since I also worked as an EMT bus-driver, various positions came out for Inspector and I managed to get promoted. But I had to do a course in the morning for one month, and I worked at the Museum on the morning shift. So I went to speak to Mr. Salas. I said, “Don Xavier, I don’t know whether you are aware that I work at the municipal transport company”. And he replied, “old chap, you never told me that! What do you need?” “I’ve gone for a position as Inspector because I want to stop driving and I won’t be able to come in the mornings for one month”. He replied, “go upstairs and talk to Mr. Morales; I’m going to ring him now”; Mr. Morales was the manager. I go up to speak to him and he says to me, “Manso, the Director has already spoken to me: come in the afternoon if you can! And if you can’t, then you don’t have to come! You do what you have to do and just come on the afternoons when you can!” And I said, “but there won’t be anybody there for the library; it’ll have to close”. But he insisted, “you attend to your post on the days when you can, and you stay as long as you can”. So I had no problem whatsoever!