The Royal Collections Gallery is opening its temporary exhibition space by exhibiting National Heritage’s collection of vehicles and carriages, one of the finest in the world, which includes works from the 16th to the 20th century. The exhibition can be visited from 29 June and will be open to the public until June 2024.
The exhibition is made up of around fifty pieces, including several carriages, vehicles, sleighs and even a travelling couchette, through which the history of the carriage in Spain and its role as a representation of power can be traced. Its use by the Spanish monarchy and court began in the 16th century, when it became the fashionable means of transport for transfers between Madrid and the other Royal Sites, as part of the monarchy's stage set for power. Today, carriages are still used during official ceremonies, such as when ambassadors present their credentials to the king.
The vehicles on display include pieces that are unique for their beauty and advanced technology for their time, such as the Golden Berlin, from the mid-18th century; the Bronze Landó from 1829; and the Shell Carriage and the Figures Carriage, which belonged to Charles IV and Maria Luisa of Parma.
Alongside these, there are other unique items, such as Queen Isabella II’s children's carriage and two richly decorated wooden sledges, one of them in the shape of a dragon, possibly a gift from Tsar Alexander III to Alfonso XII. The exhibition is rounded off with two Mercedes-Benz cars, a 1939 all-terrain vehicle which was a gift from Hitler to General Franco in 1940, and the classic 'Grosser Mercedes' model from 1942, both of which are on display in the Historical Hall of the Royal Guard.
Furthermore, the exhibition is rounded off with objects related to the monarchs' travels. Two travel boots from the Royal Monastery of La Encarnación, similar to those used by the monarchs on their travels, are on display. The saddles, saddlebags, stirrups and harnesses come from the harness room at the Royal Palace in Madrid. The Prado Museum has lent seven paintings with court scenes in which the horse-drawn carriages play a special role.
The museography plays with the metaphor of the journey, as it is articulated in a central gallery from which the public can look out through large windows and contemplate the works from different points of view. Touch screens enable visitors to explore the interior of the vehicles and carriages.
The exhibition ends with an audiovisual presentation that summarises the history of the Royal Stables and explains its current use as an essential part of some official events. The visit is included in the Gallery’s general entrance ticket.
Image Credits:
- Bronze Landó
- Amaranth Carriage
- Golden Berlin
- Car chassis model
- Mercedes-Benz 770, 'Grosser Mercedes'
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