In the capital of Spain, Madrid, the Prado is one of the most important and most visited art museums in the world. In its more than 200-year history, its collection has increased more than twenty-fold. The temple of art today displays the largest and most important collection of Spanish paintings ever – and yet has voluntarily given up what is perhaps his most famous work.
The importance of a building for a city is usually evident from the ease of finding it, even for those unfamiliar with the area. In the case of the world-famous Prado Museum in Madrid, the answer is simple, because the temple of art not only sits enthroned in the heart of the city, but is also located on a magnificent avenue that bears its name. Paseo del Prado, as the street is called, is home to two other fine museums, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza, but none come close to the Prado in terms of class and grandeur. For more than 200 years it has been one of the best addresses for art in Spain and in the world.
It was 1785 when King Charles III of Spain fort official site of the Prado commissioned a building from the well-known architect Juan de Villanueva. The monarch originally had a cabinet of natural history in mind when he gave the order for the building. Karl dies three years later and never learns that he is in charge of what is perhaps the most important art museum in Europe after the Louvre. His nephew, Ferdinand VII, laid the foundation stone for what today defines the house. Namely the most complete and important collection of Spanish paintings in the world.
Fanatic art collectors
Basically, however, we owe it not to Ferdinand himself, but to his wife, Queen Maria Isabel de Braganza. She suggests displaying the royal house’s immense art collection in a dignified setting that can be experienced by a large audience. And this is how the Prado opened its doors to the public for the first time on November 10, 1819. The first exhibition includes 311 works by Spanish artists such as Diego Velázquez, José de Ribera and Francisco Zurbarán. More exhibition space will be needed soon. “DeutschlandfunkAccording to him, just two years later, an exhibition dedicated to Italian masters opens.
The Spanish royal family’s collecting frenzy had already begun in 1516 under Charles V, and so works by artists such as Hieronymus Bosch, Titian, El Greco, Rubens, Jan van Eyck, Albrecht Dürer and countless others were considered their own. Under the Habsburgs and the Bourbons new works were constantly being added, and so the Prado collection grew steadily and very rapidly. In addition to the paintings, sculptures also form an important part of the museum today. Even at the time of the first exhibition, there were five times more works here than could be shown.
Also of interest: The 10 best art museums in Spain
More than 8600 paintings and a dramatic rescue
From 1835 onwards, the Prado acquired much more important works of art. At that time, the government ordered the closure of all monasteries in the country. Their possessions passed to the royal family, and the most important works ended up in the then legendary museum at the end of the 19th century. But with growth has come a real luxury problem, namely the lack of space in terms of exhibition spaces. And this continues, despite a spectacular expansion in 2007. To date, the Prado can only show a portion of its exhibits to the public.
Today the Prado collection includes, according to the Official tourism site of the city of Madrid more than 8600 paintings and over 700 sculptures. Particularly important artists such as Goya and El Greco have their rooms in the temple of art. The works on display here date back to the 11th century. Perhaps the most important image is the triptych The Garden of Delights by Hieronymus Bosch. This can be seen from the fact that the museum’s official website puts it in first place in the list of his masterpieces. The fact that these can still be admired today is due to a dramatic rescue operation. With the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, the Prado works were initially moved to Valencia. From there they were then taken to safe Switzerland.
Since 1981 he has been at the Prado with Pablo Picasso Guernica also to see an image that addresses this terrible past in a monumental way. Indeed, despite the immense importance of this painting, in 1992 it was decided to donate it to the nearby Reina Sofia. The reason: From now on, they only want to show works of art that date back to the 19th century at the latest.
How to get to the Prado for free
With around three million visitors a year, the Prado has long been one of the most popular museums in the world. The permanent exhibitions are complemented by numerous temporary exhibitions. The Kunsthaus is open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00. According to the official website, admission is currently 15 euros. However, everyone can visit the museum for free from Monday to Saturday from 18.00 to 20.00 and Sunday from 17.00 to 19.00. However, this limited time frame is not long enough to properly appreciate the treasures of the Prado, as I can attest from my own experience.
Also of interest: The Louvre: the legendary temple of French art
Sublime temple of art
Although the Kunstpalast is more than busy at any time of day or year, a wonderful calm reigns inside. As a visitor, you can get an audio guide for you to explain the various works. I myself have always preferred to do a little research myself after or during the viewing. I remember countless sultry summer days escaping the heat in the cool halls of the Prado. Somehow time seems to pass differently at home. In an eerily safe way, one feels completely cut off from the outside world, which rushes mere feet away.
The house’s new offering, available every first Saturday of the month, must also be spectacular. THE Meadow at night it will then open its doors to visitors free of charge from 20.30 to 23.30. For regular guests, I recommend buying tickets online in advance. In front of the gates of the temple of art there are almost always considerable queues. And rightly so: I have never seen a building anywhere else in the world that presents such a sublime collection in such a dignified and befitting of its importance, yet unpretentious manner.
