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Voces del Prado

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Works have a life of their own and they look at you

José Manso Gómez, Textile and Panel Painting Conservator, 1953-1992
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Works have a life of their own and they look at you

José Manso Gómez, Textile and Panel Painting Conservator, 1953-1992

At many exhibitions we had to stay at night, which was quite flattering. Strange as it may seem, I had to stay for the El Greco exhibition. And it felt as if the works looked at you. It seemed as if they were going to walk out of the painting. It may seem strange but it's really nice to be in the Museum at night. Alone. A precious feeling. It feels like they're looking at you, about to jump off the canvas. It's a bit spooky at first but you get over it. If you get a chance you should try it, alone and with the painter of your choice. It's true that they seem to come alive. A life of their own. You can almost see them moving.

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

12 / 15
  1. My father worked at the Prado Museum
    My father worked at the Prado Museum
  2. My initiation in woodwork
    My initiation in woodwork
  3. Sotomayor proposed that I work in the halls and Sánchez Cantón transferred me to the atelier
    Sotomayor proposed that I work in the halls and Sánchez Cantón transferred me to the atelier
  4. Fernando Álvarez de Sotomayor
    Fernando Álvarez de Sotomayor
  5. A treasure within a cabinet from Cuba
    A treasure within a cabinet from Cuba
  6. 1946. placement of a large work by Vicente López on the ceiling
    1946. placement of a large work by Vicente López on the ceiling
  7. 1961. An attempted robbery
    1961. An attempted robbery
  8. 1994. <em>The Holy Familiy</em> by Sebastiano del Piombo, from the Cathedral of Burgos
    1994. The Holy Familiy by Sebastiano del Piombo, from the Cathedral of Burgos
  9. 1974. <em>The Portrait of Carmen Martínez-Bordiú</em>, by Salvador Dalí
    1974. The Portrait of Carmen Martínez-Bordiú, by Salvador Dalí
  10. Working as a joiner and restitching canvases
    Working as a joiner and restitching canvases
  11. Wooden support. Doing things my way
    Wooden support. Doing things my way
  12. Works have a life of their own and they look at you
    Works have a life of their own and they look at you
  13. The impact of El Greco
    The impact of El Greco
  14. A lot of life in the work done, eight years at the atelier
    A lot of life in the work done, eight years at the atelier
  15. Visiting the Museum, before and after
    Visiting the Museum, before and after
Included in themes
Nights in the Museum
Collective
Restoration
RDF
RDF
Collective

Restoration

Something Untouchable

Rafael Alonso Alonso

 Restorer, 1978-2016
Artistic Sensibility and Cultural Wealth

María Teresa Dávila Álvarez

 Restorer, 1982-2013
1974: The First Female Art Restorers

Rocío Dávila Álvarez

 Restorer, 1974-2015
1985. From the Metropolitan to the Prado

George Bisacca

 Restorer, 1985-What's on
Theme

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Voces del Prado

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