The Fundación Ibercaja Goya Museum has added thirteen works by Joaquín Sorolla and a sketching box used by the painter for outdoor work to its permanent collection. The arrival of these fourteen pieces strengthens the museum’s offerings just one month after its reopening and expansion of exhibition space.
Goya Museum adds thirteen Sorolla sketches to its permanent collection
The group comprises thirteen small oil paintings on wood panels, cardboard, and other supports. Sorolla described them as “sketches,” “daubs,” or “color notes”: works initially conceived as drafts, preparatory studies, or exercises for larger-format paintings that over time acquired standing in their own right.
The pieces offer a close look at the artist’s creative process, his ability to capture fleeting scenes, and his mastery of light and color through quick, vibrant brushstrokes. The selection includes landscapes, seascapes, and everyday compositions created between the final third of the 19th century and the first third of the 20th century from Sorolla’s Madrid studio.
The newly added works include Playa del Cabañal, Playa de Biarritz, Elenita en la orilla, Río Tajo (Toledo), Olivos de Asís, and Esperando las barcas. The fourteen pieces are displayed on the museum’s third floor, as part of the gallery devoted to artists who followed Francisco de Goya.
A sketching box sheds light on Sorolla’s outdoor work
The addition also includes a sketching box belonging to Joaquín Sorolla, preserved with paint stains. The object provides tangible evidence of the artist’s working methods and of the tools used for painting outside the studio.
This type of case became popular in the late 19th century alongside the rise of outdoor painting. It made it possible to carry oil paint in tubes and included a palette, enabling artists to work without the need for easels.
Collection expansion follows Goya Museum’s reopening
The presentation of the works was attended by José Luis Rodrigo, managing director of Fundación Ibercaja; May Forcén, director of the Goya Museum; and Marisa Oropesa, artistic adviser. The acquisition forms part of the museum’s new phase, which has reorganized and expanded its exhibition spaces.
The arrival of the pieces continues the museum’s relationship with Sorolla following the temporary exhibition En el mar de Sorolla con Manuel Vicent, held in 2024. The museum’s permanent collection currently includes more than 500 works, while the temporary exhibition Solo Goya. El arte de ver will remain open through January 10.
