The Royal Collections Gallery has opened a new temporary exhibition on its third floor, focusing on the work of painter Fernando Brambila. This artist, active between the late 18th and early 19th centuries, left an invaluable visual legacy of Spain's Royal Sites.
Originally a renowned set designer for Milan's La Scala theatre, Brambila joined Alessandro Malaespina's scientific expedition in 1791. His talent enabled the detailed documentation of landscapes, cities, and ports in America, Asia, and Oceania, complementing the scientific descriptions of the journey. Upon his return, he settled in Madrid and continued in the service of the Crown, being appointed Painter, Architect, and Decorator of the Chamber in 1799. He passed away in the capital on January 23, 1834.
The exhibition, of reduced format, gathers some thirty drawings, paintings, prints, and books. Brambila's mastery of landscape is highlighted, offering memorable depictions of cities and grand palaces. Among the pieces is a panorama of the Royal Palace from the Manzanares River, featuring washerwomen, and awe-inspiring interior views such as the Pantheon of Kings in the monastery of El Escorial.
The ambitious commission from Ferdinand VII to document the Royal Sites established the official image of these locations. The selection includes representations of Aranjuez, Madrid, El Escorial, La Granja de San Ildefonso, and the now-vanished Royal Site of La Isabela (Guadalajara). The 95 oil paintings, created between 1821 and 1833, were later reproduced as lithographs, facilitating their popular dissemination. The exhibition also features prints of the ruins of Zaragoza after the Napoleonic siege, underscoring the documentary value of his work. The exhibition is curated by Isabel María Rodríguez Marco.
The exhibition 'Brambila, painter of the Royal Sites' can be visited from May 29 to October 12.
Starting June 11, the Royal Collections Gallery will present another exhibition, 'Weaving Courtly Life,' with pieces gathered from various National Heritage sites. Access to Brambila's exhibition is included in the Gallery's general admission ticket and is free for holders of a ticket to any National Heritage Royal Site.
