San Fernando Fine Art Royal Academy

We were lucky enough to stumble upon a spectacular exhibition of Francisco Goya's prints at the San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts during our visit to Madrid. The show features over 200 etchings from his four legendary print series — Los Caprichos, The Disasters of War, Los Disparates (The Follies), and La Tauromaquia (Bullfighting). And as a truly rare treat, the original copper printing plates are displayed right beside the prints. Each series reveals a different facet of Goya's genius. Los Caprichos blends fantasy and biting social satire, exposing human vices and follies with sharp wit. The Disasters of War is a raw, unflinching chronicle of the horrors of conflict — no glorification, just truth. Los Disparates is perhaps his most enigmatic work: dreamlike, nightmarish scenes full of symbolism and mystery. And finally, La Tauromaquia captures the drama and intensity of bullfighting, a deep-rooted part of Spanish tradition, with stunning energy and movement. This is not your average museum stop — it’s the kind of exhibition you see once in a lifetime. Goya, who in my humble opinion ranks among the greatest painters in history, proves with these prints that his genius wasn’t limited to canvas. His haunting, satirical, and often brutally honest vision comes alive through these meticulously crafted etchings. If you find yourself in Madrid while this exhibition is still running, don’t even think of skipping it. Goya doesn’t just show you art — he shows you the world through a sharp, fearless eye.

This was a rather nice surprise. There is a fabulous collection of Goya prints with original plates. The main gallery over a couple of floors holds a great collection of many of the Spanish masters work. Over 65’s discount with supporting ID

Great little gallery showcasing the masters of Spanish art, such as Goya, Ribera and Zurbaran. Highly recommended

We visited around 11am and it was virtually empty! The staff were the friendliest of all the Madrid museums and galleries we have visited, everyone said hello. We enjoyed 3 floors of paintings and sculptures. You have to go up the steps on left to ticket office at the shop. There is a large lift inside. Fantastic comfy sofas to sit and admire the artwork, unlike the hard benches at other galleries! These were very comfortable!

Free 1:30-3 pm Tuesday to Sunday. Worth a visit. I preferred Goya's engravings to his paintings so I liked the little gallery they had. The third floor features more contemporary art and even photography which I liked. Lots of religious art and portraiture in general. A must-see is Buddha's Temptations.

I visited both the permanent exhibition of this museum and the temporary exhibition of Goya. While the permanent collection was more engaging than the Goya exhibit, overall, if you’re in Madrid for just a couple of days, I’d suggest prioritizing more popular art museums. In my opinion, this museum wasn’t particularly impressive. However, I did find some individual art pieces that I liked a lot.

Very nice museum with lots of beautiful artworks spread over the floors. The staff is helpful but doesn't always speak English. Admission is free, at least in the winter season. Definitely see the copper plates used by Goya for some of his most famous imprints. There are also some modern artwork displays on the upper floors that you will not want to miss. This was a gem of a find, but you can leave it till your last days in Madrid, like we did.

This museum has an large collection of engravings and paintings of Goya. For the Americans, you can find a full size painting of George Washington by Josef Perovani. Prepare for a two or more hours to visit.