Biblioteca Museu Víctor Balaguer

The Biblioteca Museu Víctor Balaguer (Víctor Balaguer Museum & Library) is located in Vilanova i la Geltrú, province of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain and was founded in 1884 by Víctor Balaguer to thank the city for its support during his political career. Since 2000 the museum is part of the National Art Museum of Catalonia and the library is part of the National Library of Catalonia. Building Entrance to the main building with stairs flanked by the sculptures of Francesc Armanyà and the poet Manuel de Cabanyes , and the inscription Surge et Ambula . The building was built between 1882 and 1884, it is from the architect Jeroni Granell i Mundet and it is located in the centre of Vilanova i la Geltrú, surrounded by the railway station , the superior engineering technical college of Vilanova i la Geltrú of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia and the library of this college. It was specifically conceived as a library and museum. Collections The arts gallery hall Egyptian hall As the ancient collectors of the 19th century, the collection is divided into several subcollections because of Balaguer's multidisciplinary interest. Although the majority of the collection was given by Balaguer, the museum has incorporated and enriched his collections through the years with several donations and acquisitions. As of 2023, the museum's artistic holdings consist of 10,500 different objects, with an emphasis on painting and sculpture of the 19th century. Since the year of its foundation, the Museo del Prado has deposited several works that are changed periodically.