The most compelling part of the museum though, the jewels, are the Sorolla murals. An entire room is dedicated to large canvases, 12-14 feet in height, by Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida and ring the room like a mobius. Depicting local life in various regions of Spain with each area's unique flavor and traditions, the murals are part of a series Sorolla was commissioned to paint towards the end of his career. I first saw the paintings in Southern Spain where they were on loan and was captivated by the luminous scenes. Impressionism and its focus on light came to mind, but unaffiliated with any school of style, Sorolla's use of light is unique -representational and palpable. I could almost feel the hot pulsing sun of the sultry afternoons depicted. Sorolla reportedly loved being outside and all but one of the paintings in the series were completed outdoors. Paintings by other notable artists include El Greco, Diego Velázquez, and Francisco de Goya.
The museum is located in Audobon Terrace, a historic landmark of American Renaissance buildings dating from the early 20th Century. The ornate courtyard dominated by an El Cid statue also houses the Hispanic Society's Library, the Numismatic Society, the American Geographical Society, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Church of Our Lady of Esperanza. At the time of visiting all buildings other than the museum and church were closed to the public.
Roughly a ten minute walk south of the Hispanic Society is Riverside Church, a historic building completed in 1930 and famous as a site of liberal activism. Martin Luther King announced his opposition to the Vietnam War here, and other notable speakers include Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
More information:
The museum is free to visit.
Visiting hours: http://www.hispanicsociety.org/hispanic/visitor.htm
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