STARTUP 2 | Page 115

Reale Academia de España 143 years of successes

by

Raffaele Quattrone

This year under the management of the new director, Maria Angeles Albert De Leon, Reale Academia celebrates its 143th birthday with a group exhibition with the outputs of the projects created by the artists in residence in 2016

News fron the studios of Jorge Conde, Alberto Diaz, Inaki Gracenea, Jose Guerrero, Jesus Mandrinan, Clara Montoya, David Munoz, Josep Tornero and Juan Zamora.

Reale Academia de España is one of the leading international cultural institutions with a branch in Italy created when Italy was an important stop of the Grand Tour. In 2008 Matt Gross in the New York Times wrote: “Three hundred years ago, wealthy young Englishmen began taking a post-Oxbridge trek through France and Italy in search of art, culture and the roots of Western civilization. With nearly unlimited funds, aristocratic connections and months (or years) to roam, they commissioned paintings, perfected their language skills and mingled with the upper crust of the Continent.” In the past artists had the habit to finish their artistic education in Italy to see its beautiful artworks and architectures in a period when there was no internet, or radio or TV. The French Academy branch in Italy was born in 1666 and since then Spain wanted to create a space in Italy where Spanish artists visiting Italy could find protection under the control of the Spanish King. However the Papal State was unfavorable to go ahead with this project that has been successful only in 1873. From then Reale Academia de España collected many artworks creating a beautiful and interesting collection. This year under the management of the new director, Maria Angeles Albert De Leon, Reale Academia celebrates its 143th birthday with a group exhibition with the outputs of the projects created by the artists in residence in 2016. On this occasion I have visited the studios of some participants: Jorge Conde, Alberto Diaz, Inaki Gracenea, Jose Guerrero, Jesus Mandrinan, Clara Montoya, David Munoz, Josep Tornero and Juan Zamora.