Exhibition “The Tyranny of Cronos”

Until 29 March 2025, the Banco de España Exhibition Hall will host a unique exhibition combining portraits by renowned American photographer Annie Leibovitz with more than 50 artworks from museums and private collections. The pieces on display include tapestries, paintings, sculptures, photographs and a collection of antique clocks ranging from the 18th century to the present day.

The exhibition’s centrepiece is Leibovitz’s portraits of King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and the former Governor of the Banco de España, Pablo Hernández de Cos. It is the first time that official images of government officials have been replaced by photographs, representing a revolutionary approach to the traditional portrait genre.

Other exhibits include a 17th-century tapestry, “The Triumph of Love and Eternity over Time”, by Jan Lanier, and rare examples of clockmaking from the 18th and 20th centuries, from six museums including the Museo Nacional del Romanticismo and the Museo Internacional de Relojería.

Leibovitz, winner of the Prince of Asturias Award for Humanities, is known for her ability to combine the rigour of protocol with creative freedom. Her work conveys profound symbolism and historical meaning while revealing contemporary aspects of traditional art.