Visitors coming up for the day by train from Marbella have been flocking to Malaga's amazing Carmen Thyssen art collection and to the world-famous Picasso Museum ever since they opened their doors to the public, but quite a few of them miss out seeing the Picasso Foundation Museum housed in the great artist's birthplace. Casa Natal Museum at Plaza de la Merced # 15 is the very house where Pablo Picasso was born and spent his formative years.
Five Halls of inspirational Art
Tracing the early life and work of what is arguably Spain's most influential artist, the museum houses ceramics, drawings and etchings. In addition, there are memorabilia, personal artefacts and documents, photos and videos that focus on the most important stepping stones in Picasso's artistic and private life.
But the first floor of the building doesn't not just house works by Pablo Picasso. In XIX Century's Hall art lovers will find works like “Palomar”, a big canvas painting by José Ruiz Blasco, Picasso's father. There are also two photographs by Blasco and two paintings created by artist José Denis Belgrano.
Another part of the collection shows Picasso's time in Malaga, highlighting his early days with personal objects of every day use, a self-portrait as a young man and various photographs. It is an emotionally charged exhibition, bringing the artist to life with every exhibit. In Halls 4 and 5 the Serra Collection will wow lovers of ceramics, for here the Foundation displays 25 of Picasso's ceramics, kindly loaned by private collector Pere A. Serra, a Mallorca-based businessman.
Charting the Beginnings of a Legend
Built in 1861 and located in Malaga City's historic centre, Casa Natal has been an official national heritage site since 1983 and was taken over by the Foundation in 1998. It was re-opened to the public by the King and Queen of Spain after extensive renovation and alterations.
Since the former home of the city's most famous son is surrounded by monuments documenting the city's rich heritage, among them the Roman Theatre, Gibralfaro Castle, the Alcazaba and Archaeological Museum, Picasso Museum, Malaga Cathedral and Cervantes Museum, Casa Natal is often overlooked by visitors rushing around the city trying to see the most famous tourist attractions. However, the Picasso Foundation's wonderful collection is well worth a visit in its own right and should not be rushed through, for it serves as an excellent “mirror” of Malaga's growing artistic influence internationally from the start of the 20th century onwards.
Picasso's father, the artist José Ruiz Blasco, rented the first floor apartment from 1880 to 1883. The family later moved to another location at Plaza de la Merced, where they lived until 1891, when Picasso's father secured a job as art teacher in La Coruña in Galacia, where the family stayed until 1895.
Serving as headquarters for the Picasso Foundation, the house is now divided into several different “halls”. The ground floor is designated exhibition space, housing temporary shows, but also displaying artefacts from Picasso's early home and cultural life. The building also houses a research centre and library on the third floor, where an expansive archive on the artist and his work is made available to scholars. This is one of the more reasonably priced tourist attractions to visit in the city, for entry fees start at just 1.00 Euro.