Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya

The museum is housed in the Palau Nacional, a monumental building constructed for the 1929 International Exposition of Barcelona. Designed in a grand eclectic style that blends Renaissance and Baroque elements, the palace was intended to be a permanent structure. It was declared a national monument and has served as the museum's home since 1934. The building features a massive central dome and expansive staircases, designed to accommodate the grandeur of the national collection. Recent renovations, including the remodeling of the medieval Gothic Art Room in 2010 and the reformulation of the Romanesque presentation in 2011, have updated the visitor experience while preserving the architectural integrity of the historic palace.

The MNAC possesses the world's most comprehensive collection of Romanesque art, particularly famous for its mural paintings. In the early 20th century, many frescoes were removed from churches in the Pyrenees to prevent their destruction or sale abroad, notably following the actions of an American art dealer in 1919. These murals, dating from the 11th to 13th centuries, are displayed in reconstructed church interiors within the museum. The collection also includes unique panel paintings, such as the frontals of the Apostles, and significant examples of stone carving, wood carving, and metalwork. The Romanesque galleries are arranged chronologically and stylistically, offering a complete view of Catalan medieval art.

The Gothic collection features a significant number of Catalan works alongside pieces from territories once ruled by the Crown of Aragon, including Italy and the Mediterranean. Notable highlights include the renowned altarpiece of the Virgin of Montserrat and works by artists such as Ferrer Bassa. The Renaissance and Baroque sections, while smaller in number compared to the medieval holdings, are of high quality and include works by major European masters such as El Greco, Francisco de Zurbarán, and Diego Velázquez. These collections were significantly enriched by the Cambó Bequest, which brought a wide range of European paintings from the 14th to the early 20th century, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection.

The modern art collection covers the period from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century, a pivotal era for Catalan art. It features key works by Marià Fortuny, including 'Bullfight, Wounded Picador' (1867), and extensive representations of the Modernista and Noucentista movements. The collection includes major figures such as Antoni Gaudí, Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, and Antoni Tàpies. The museum also houses a significant department of photography established in 1996, as well as the Cabinet of Drawings and Prints, which holds over 50,000 drawings and 70,000 engravings. The collection reflects the evolution of Catalan art through the historic avant-garde and includes works by international artists active in Barcelona.

The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya is of paramount importance for the preservation and study of Catalan cultural heritage. Its unique concentration of Romanesque mural paintings, many of which were saved from disappearing churches, makes it a singular institution globally. The museum's role in unifying disparate collections under a single national law in 1990 solidified its status as the central repository for the nation's artistic history. Beyond its primary collections, the museum maintains the Gabinet Numismàtic de Catalunya with over 134,000 coins and medals, and the General Library of Art History, supporting extensive research. The institution continues to evolve through major donations, such as the Antonio Gallardo bequest in 2016, ensuring its relevance for future generations.