The Prado Museum

The Prado Museum (Museo del Prado) is the biggest art museum in the world and one of Madrid's most famous attractions. It was built in the late 1700s during the reign of Charles III, who wanted to create a spectacular monument in the city.
Prado means “meadow” in Spanish. It was named after its location. To this day lush green meadows surround the museum.

The museum was initially supposed to serve as a gallery of natural history. Architect Villanueva designed the lofty domes and sunny interior. These aspects are among the few that remain of the original plan.

Construction halted after the Spanish War broke out. The edifice was used by Spanish troops as a refuge, and consequently many items were destroyed or lost.

Under Ferdinand VII, who succeeded Charles III, it was decided that the building would host an art gallery. At that time it was named the Royal Museum of Painting and Sculpture. It housed slightly over 1500 paintings in the 19th century, of which just 300 were on display and the rest in storage.

After nationalization in Spain the museum became property of the government and was renamed to Museo del Prado. It still maintains sovereign traditions, displaying a vast number of royal portraits, but also features pieces of contemporary art. The museum was enlarged in 1918, and again in the 1950s and 1960s. Today it displays 2000 paintings with another 8600 in storage, as the problem with space has not been fully resolved. The works on display include some by masters such as Velazquez, Raphael, El Greco, Diego Ribera, Bosch, Murillo, Rembrandt, Goya, Rubens, and others of this calibre.

Velazquez is considered one of the greatest painters that ever lived. Experts maintain that he produced the largest quantity of superior art works. His paintings are featured in many museums throughout the world. He was born in Seville, the art capital of Spain. In 1623 Felipe IV appointed him court painter at the court in Madrid. He reached the apogee of his career while working there. Velazquez is often referred to as "the painter of truth". As a court artist he produced many royal portraits, but his works reflecting themes of religion and mythology are superior in quality. Among the works of this artist at the Prado are The Crucified Christ and The Drunkards.
The Crucified Christ was produced around 1632. It exudes an air of serenity, reinforced by a severe black background that contrasts with the tense, illuminated body of Christ. The Drunkards, alternatively known as The Triumph of Bacchus, marked an effort to adapt myth to everyday life. The artist opted to surround the god of wine with peasants. This painting is reminiscent of the works of Titian and Rubens.

Garden of Earthly Delights trilogy     The Shootings of May 2nd     

Bartolome Esteban Murillo is another Seville native. He was born in 1617 and lived in this city until his death. Murillo's works are predominantly characterized by religious themes. His works in the Prado include The Boys of the Shell, where he depicts Jesus giving St. John a drink with little angels in the background, The Good Shepherd, and Immaculate of Crescent Moon. Murillo created many works with themes of infants. In The Good Shepherd he represents a child caressing a loving lamb. The painting explores the peace and satisfaction felt by true believers.

The most famous work by Hieronymus Bosch in the Prado is his Garden of Earthly Delights trilogy. The three paintings are Paradise, Central Panel and Hell. This is a genius work representing everyday people and myths. Paradise depicts the Garden of Eden before the Fall. The so-called Central Panel represents a variety of immoral activities performed by men and women. In the age of Bosch it was believed that wantonness was the source of all sins. It was also believed that women were entirely to blame for incidences of impiety and depravity. Like Eve, they simply could not help themselves, being of frail and weak nature.

The final part of the triptych, Hell, depicts a scene of sinners being punished for the way they lived their life. Interestingly, the man at the centre of the painting is Bosch himself.



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