The Catalan artist Antoni Tàpies's life (1923-2012)was marked by existential questioning. Philosophers, religious thinkers, scientists, Old Masters and contemporary artists alike influenced his artistic practice. Tàpies' impulse to collect stemmed directly from this fascination. Constantly seeking a link between the many cultures, geographies and epochs of humanity, his spiritual quest typified all his artistic preoccupations.The 2013 exhibition Tàpies. Lo sguardo dell'ar-tista (The eye of the artist) at Palazzo Fortuny presents a thoughtful selection of Tàpies' own work in the broader context of his collection. The intimacy of the house of Mariano Fortuny, himself a kaleidoscopic collector, extends the dialogue. This book ende avours to convey the spirit of Tàpies' art and his extraordinary eye as both an artist and a collector.