The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, also known as the Thyssen, is an art museum located in Madrid, Spain. It was inaugurated in 1992, and it features one of the most significant private art collections in the world. The museum houses over 1,000 works of art, including paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts, from the 13th to the late 20th century.
The collection was started in the early 20th century by Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza, a German-Hungarian industrialist and art collector. The collection was later expanded by his son, Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza, who continued to acquire artworks until his death in 2002. In 1985, the Spanish government purchased the collection from the Thyssen family for around $350 million, and it became part of the National Museum of the Prado.
The Thyssen Museum's permanent collection is arranged chronologically, and it spans eight centuries of European art. It includes works by many of the most famous artists in history, such as Caravaggio, Raphael, Titian, Rubens, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, and Hopper, among others. Some of the most important paintings in the collection include "Danaë" by Titian, "The Arnolfini Portrait" by Jan van Eyck, and "Les Vessenots à Auvers" by Van Gogh.
Besides the permanent collection, the museum also features temporary exhibitions that showcase different aspects of art history, as well as educational programs and cultural events. The museum is located in the Villahermosa Palace, a 19th-century neoclassical building that was extensively renovated before becoming the museum's headquarters. Today, the Thyssen is one of the most popular art museums in Madrid, and it attracts thousands of visitors every year.