High Fashion Wasn’t Easy in Imperial Spain

One thing that enquiring minds don’t ask anymore is whether the Hispanic Society is worth a visit. Those in the know understand that this unique, fantastic museum in Hamilton Heights in Manhattan is always a treat. It’s the best collection of Spanish art outside Spain — think El Greco, Velázquez, Murillo, Goya — and a revered rare-book and manuscript library, both in an art palace on Broadway between 155th and 156th Streets. This might seem like adventure travel, but it’s a unique national treasure. I’ve written about it off and on for years, calling it “the greatest museum no one knows,” but that “no one knows” might be outdated. Through good exhibitions, a traveling treasures show, an energetic director, a new potentate board, an essential, gradual renovation, and something approaching financial stability, word’s gotten out.