Archivo Ruiz Vernacci, Photo library at Spanish Cultural Heritage Institute, Madrid, Spain
The Archivo Ruiz Vernacci is a photo library within the Spanish Cultural Heritage Institute in Madrid holding over 40,000 photographic negatives documenting Spanish architecture, art, and daily life from 1857 to 1960. Around 12,000 photographs from the Laurent collection are available to researchers through the institute's online catalog.
The collection began with J. Laurent in the 19th century and was later expanded by the Ruiz Vernacci family. In 1976 the Spanish government acquired this extensive archive to preserve the photographic legacy for future generations.
The collection records Spanish artworks from the Prado Museum through systematic photography and shows rare photographs of Goya's Black Paintings in their original location. These visual records offer visitors a window into how celebrated works appeared before moving or being altered.
The collection is accessible through an online catalog, allowing remote research without a physical visit. Those wishing to come in person should check in advance how visits are organized, as this is a specialized research facility.
The collection preserves glass plate negatives in acid-free paper envelopes stored vertically with strict humidity requirements between 30 and 40 percent. This specialized conservation approach demonstrates the care taken to protect these historical photographs.
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