Overview

• The MNAC announced his death on August 18, 2025, at age 79, prompting formal condolences from director Pepe Serra and president Salvador Illa.
• As director general of Patrimoni Cultural (1988–1994) he was instrumental in drafting the 1990 Llei de Museus that shaped Catalan museum governance.
• He guided the MNAC’s revival from 1994 to 2005, overseeing the 1995 reopening of Romanesque galleries and the 2004 reinauguration of the Palau Nacional.
• Carbonell organized landmark exhibitions such as the Caravaggio show that elevated the MNAC’s global standing and visitor attendance.
• A leading scholar of Romanesque and medieval art, he held academic posts, advocated for expert-led conservation and received the Creu de Sant Jordi in 2020.