Museu Picasso

The museum dedicated to the work of Pablo Picasso was initially proposed by his friend and secretary, Jaume Sabartés, who had received numerous paintings, drawings, and prints from the artist. Originally, Sabartés intended to establish the museum in Málaga, Picasso's birthplace, but Picasso suggested Barcelona, where he had strong connections. In 1960, Sabartés signed an agreement with the city to establish the museum, which opened in 1963 with the Sabartés Collection consisting of 574 works donated from his personal collection, as well as works gifted by Picasso to the city of Barcelona and other donations from his friends and collectors.

The museum initially operated under the name of the Sabartés Collection due to Picasso's strong opposition to Franco's regime. Despite the government's objections, Barcelona mayor Josep Porcioles went ahead to open the museum in Palau Aguilar on Montcada Street. The collection mainly comprised Sabartés' personal collection, lithographs, and posters. In subsequent years, the collection expanded with donations, including seven drawings dated between 1899 and 1904 gifted by Junyer Sebastian Vidal, a book of engravings made by Picasso of Ovid's Metamorphoses donated by Salvador Dalí, and a collage given by Gala Dalí titled No, 1913.

Following Sabartés' death in 1968, Picasso made his final personal donation to the museum in 1970, comprising 920 diverse works, including pieces from his early Blue Period. Sabartés himself left a series of 58 paintings of Las Meninas. In December 1970, the museum expanded with the addition of Palau del Baró de Castellet. Over the years, the museum's collection grew significantly through donations from individuals, galleries, and acquisitions, including Jacqueline Roque's 41 pieces in 1982 and Louise Leiris Gallery's 117 engravings in 1983. Other notable donations included those from Carles Domingo and the Editorial Gustavo Gili. In 1985, the museum expanded again with Palau Meca. During the 1990s, donations included a women's bust and Man Sitting, and the museum acquired works like Portrait of Jacqueline with Tape. In the late 1990s, the museum expanded once more with the acquisition of Casa Mauri and Palau Windows, adding 3,400 square meters of space for temporary exhibitions, an auditorium, and additional services. It opened with Picasso: Interior and Exterior Landscape, showcasing over 200 works created by the artist between 1917 and 1970.

The museum underwent renovations and reorganization of its artworks in 2003. Two years later, it was declared a national museum of interest by the Government of Catalonia. The museum's director, Maite Ocaña, stepped down in 2006 to direct the National Art Museum of Catalonia, and Pepe Serra took over as the new director. The permanent collection was reorganized, and new rooms dedicated to engraving, including one honoring Sabartés, were opened in 2008. Serra established a network of organizations associated with Picasso to promote the artist's position in Catalonia. The museum was listed as one of the 40 most visited art museums in the world in 2009. The museum began improving its social media presence in 2010, which resulted in winning the Museums & the Web 2010 Best of the Web award. Recently, the museum expanded by constructing a new building designed by architect Jordi Garcés in Sabartés square. This helped alleviate overcrowding at the museum's entrance.

The Picasso Museum in Barcelona is situated in five expansive houses or palaces along the Carrer de Montcada, which date back to the 13th and 14th centuries, covering a total area of 10,628 square meters. These buildings were constructed in the style of Gothic civil Catalan and share a common blueprint, featuring a courtyard with an exterior staircase for accessing the main floors. It is worth noting that the structures that hold the Picasso collection have their own unique history.

Palau Aguilar

The Palau Aguilar, located at Montcada 15, was the first building acquired by the museum. Built on the residence of James Ses sources, an important figure in Barcelona's history, the building dates back to the 13th century, but underwent renovations in the 15th-18th centuries. The palace was owned by various nobles before being purchased by Berenguer Aguilar, after which it was named. It was later owned by several members of the Catalan bourgeoisie before being bought by the city council in 1953. During a 1960 restoration, a 13th-century painting was discovered and is now displayed in the National Art Museum of Catalonia. The painting is a large fresco representing the conquest of Majorca in 1229 and features the palace's central courtyard with an open staircase and a pointed Gothic arch.

Palau Baró de Castellet

The Palau Baró de Castellet in Montcada is a medieval palace dating back to the 13th century. Throughout its history, it has been owned by various bourgeois and aristocratic families of Barcelona, with renovations carried out in the 18th century. The palace was named after its then-owner, Mariano Alegre Aparici Amat, who received the noble title of Baron Castle from King Charles IV in 1797. After changing hands several times, the building was eventually purchased by the city council in the 1950s. The palace boasts a central courtyard and a 16th-century relief on its facade, while the interior features neo-classical elements from the mid-18th century.

Palau Meca

Built in the 13th and 14th centuries, Palau Meca (Montcada, 19) was restored during the 18th century and boasts a central courtyard like other palaces. Its medieval polychrome coffered ceilings on the main floor and unique 19th-century ceilings are major attractions. Originally owned by James Knight in 1349, it became the largest palace on the block under his grandson's ownership, Ramon Desplà Knight. Later, it was owned by the Marquis of Ciutadilla family and named after Joseph Mecca Hunter, its first owner. After being badly damaged in the War of Spanish Succession, the building was restored by the Milans family. In 1901, it was given to the Brothers of Christian Doctrine and later became part of a museum in 1982.

Casa Mauri

Museu Picasso owns Casa Mauri (Montcada, 21), which has ancient Roman structures from Barcino's suburbs. The 18th-century wooden facade is notable for its locking system. Rocha family owned it from 1378 to 1516, and F. Casamada owned it in 1716. The building underwent several renovations in the 19th century. It was repurposed for industrial use under owner Josep Vidal Torrents until purchased by Mauri bakeries in 1943, which gave it its name. The museum acquired the building in 1999.

Palau Finestres

Palau Finestres (Montcada, 23) is a historic building in Barcelona built on a 13th-century foundation and located on a former Roman necropolis. Originally owned by the Marimon family, it was later acquired by Jose Vidal Torres in 1872 to be annexed to his home. The City bought the building in 1970 and it now serves as an exhibition space. The ground floor features arcades added in the 15th and 17th centuries, while the main floor boasts a restored coffered ceiling from the late 13th century.

Knowledge and Research Center

The Knowledge and Research Center, located in Plaza Sabartés, is a new building designed by architect Jordi Garcés that opened on 17 February. Its main goal is to become an international hub for the study of Picasso and his social and artistic context, providing a space for discussion and debate rather than just consumption. The building is 1500 square meters and has a transparent glass facade protected by a cantilever. It features an educational center on the ground floor with multi-purpose spaces, a library and documentation center on the first floor, and visitor services in the basement. The project cost 6.7 million and was completed on 16 February 2011.

The museum's permanent collection is divided into three sections: painting and drawing, engraving, and ceramics. The majority of the works on display cover Picasso's early artistic life, particularly his Blue Period from 1901 to 1904, but there are also later pieces bequeathed or loaned by Picasso, his family, and friends. The museum now boasts a collection of over 3,500 works.

The collection is organized thematically, encompassing various periods of Picasso's life, including his early years in Málaga, Corunna, and Barcelona from 1890 to 1897, his training period in Barcelona, Horta de San Juan, and Madrid from 1897 to 1901, his Blue Period from 1901 to 1904, his works in Barcelona from 1917, and the entire Las Meninas series from 1957. Most of the paintings on display date from 1890 to 1917, providing a significant insight into this phase of Picasso's life. The museum has only a few paintings after 1917, except for the Las Meninas series.

The lithographs in the collection date from 1962 to 1982, and Picasso himself donated a copy of each of his works produced after the death of Sabartés in 1968 to the museum. The collection also features illustrations that Picasso made for various books and ceramics gifted to the museum by his widow, Jacqueline.

Beginning in 2009, the museum started publishing information about its permanent collection on its website, and as of October 2010, more than 65% of the collection was available for viewing online.

Since its opening, the Picasso Museum has curated numerous exhibitions, often exploring the painter's life and work in depth. These exhibits cover a range of topics, including Picasso's relationships with other artists, as seen in the 2010 exhibition "Picasso vs. Rusiñol," and traveling exhibitions such as "Bullfighting: Paintings, Drawings, and Prints from the Museu Picasso Collection" which were displayed at Casa Lis in Salamanca in 2010. Additionally, the museum occasionally features smaller, focused displays, like the analysis of Picasso's painting "Science and Charity" or the exploration of a statement made about Picasso in Barcelona in 1936, showcased in the "Room Esteva. Picasso Exhibition, 1936." The museum also hosts special exhibitions featuring works by Picasso and other artists, as well as seminars and lectures by experts from around the world on topics related to Picasso or museological issues of interest.