Museu Frederic Marès

Frederic Marès (1893-1991) 'collected' everything he laid his hands on, from hairbrushes to opera glasses and gargoyles. Unlike most private 19th-century collectors, Marès didn't come from a wealthy family, but spent every penny he earned as a sculptor and art professor on broadening his hoardings. In 1944 he donated his collections to the city of Barcelona, and two years later this museum was inaugurated in an area of the old Palau Reial dels Comtes de Barcelona, with the patio.

Throughout his life, Marès amassed an extensive collection of Hispanic sculpture, from ancient times to the 19th century, dominated by polychromed carvings. Marès also donated a part of his own sculpture pieces, on display in his studio-library.

The collection consists of tens of thousands of objects – some are everyday yet curious pieces such as fans, pipes, watches, jewellery and photographs – documenting how people lived and customs of the past, especially during the 19th century.