Madrid's Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum Restores Carmen Laffon Rooftop Masterpiece for Exhibition

Art enthusiasts visiting Madrid have a fresh reason to stop by the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza. The prominent cultural institution's Conservation and Restoration Department has completed detailed restoration work on The Terrace, a notable artwork created by Spanish artist Carmen Laffón.

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A Nostalgic Glimpse of 1970s Madrid

Painted between 1973 and 1975, The Terrace, Madrid captures a neglected urban rooftop bathed in warm light, creating an enveloping, nostalgic atmosphere. The painting belongs to a broader series of urban landscapes Laffón created during the 1960s and 1970s, depicting rooftop views across Seville and Madrid. These urban scenes served as an artistic prelude to her later works painted in Sanlúcar de Barrameda.

Restoration Brings Painting Back to Display

Visitors to the museum's temporary exhibition, Carmen Laffón. Variations, can now view the restored painting in optimal condition. Conservators addressed significant issues where poor adhesion between the base ground and the paint layer had caused visible lifting and paint loss. Using natural animal glue with controlled heat and pressure, specialists reattached the paint layer. Gaps were subsequently filled and carefully retouched with watercolours using an illusionistic technique to seamlessly recreate the visual continuity of the original piece without altering its character.

Plan Your Museum Visit

The restored masterpiece offers travellers a unique opportunity to experience Laffón's contemplative visual world, where ordinary urban spaces meet subtle light and nostalgia. The piece is on display at the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza as part of its temporary programming, alongside preventive measures designed to safeguard the work for long-term preservation.