Private donations and the collecting legacy of Luis Simarro to the heritage of Complutense University of Madrid

Abstract

One of the most important private donations in the Complutense University of Madrid is Luis Simarro's legacy. The Simarro Foundation was formed in 1927 with a collection of paintings by Simarro’s friends such as Sorolla, Berruete, Madrazo and prints by Dürer and Goya. In 1945 this legacy became part of the art collection of the General Foundation of Complutense University. Now its current location in the Faculty of Psychology does not fulfill all the requirements about conservation because it is not guarded by specialised staff. The management of university collections strongly depends on the general budget and Unidad Tecnica de Cultura is working in order to achieve a balance between human and material resources.