I did see some art in Madrid. The Thyssen Bornemisza had a Matisse 1917- 41. It included at least one painting from the BMA’s Cone Collection. The show made me think of interesting and different ways to use windows in painting.
On my way back to Conde Casal to get the bus I went into the Caixa Forum, Madrid an exciting new building designed for art exhibits. I had seen that the art collection of the Aga Khan was up but not that interested BUT once again was glad I dropped in because I unexpectedly found ‘ ‘the best piece of art ‘ in Madrid during the short time I was there. It was a 13-14th century silk gold brocade Mongol robe. One expects garments that old to be short and frayed. This Mongol must have been a giant; the fabric and needlework were exquisite. It was mind- boggling. I kept running back to look and make sure the dates I had written down were correct, and look again, mentally wowing.
I had some interesting episodes on the plaza at night. One evening, when the group and I were sitting in the plaza, a young man working in the next-door bar started to speak to us in English. He was a Chilean called Alberto and he spoke excellent English. Over the week I would go to the ‘Bar El Conrado’ to get my cerveza and aceitunas (beer and olives) to fuel my evening plaza scribbling. One evening I signaled to the dour senora who owned the place for more, and she sent out someone with my order, who squeaked something unintelligible to me. I thought he must be her retarded son. Alberto explained that he was a deaf mute-called Roberto, a semi orphan in his mid twenties.
Alberto felt that Roberto was exploited by the senora at the bar and in other work they made him do in the countryside. Roberto reminded me a bit of some of the more offbeat characters in the paintings of Velasquez. Alberto also told me that Roberto liked my drawings, so, since business was slow, I said I’d do a drawing of him. He understood my gestures and sat down, crossed his arms and puffed out his chest. It took under 10 minutes but the Senora was breathing down his neck and giving me the evil frowning eye.
I kept saying ” Uno momento mas, gracias.” -to no avail. She was REALLY WICKED. I tore the sketch out of my book and gave it to him. It didn’t look much like him, but he was very pleased and made interesting chirping sounds expressing his excitement. Alberto swore if he could open a bar in Madrid, he would ‘liberate’ Roberto and take him with him.
