Highlights of the Prado Museum's Exhibitions
Declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1962 and just a year away from celebrating its first bicentenary, the Prado Museum is currently one of the most renowned art galleries in the world, with more than three and a half million visitors a year.
Together with the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Museo Nacional Reina Sofía, it forms the Art Triangle, a must-see itinerary for art lovers. The extensive collection of masterpieces that these three centres bring together allows visitors to contemplate the evolution of painting from the Middle Ages to the present day.
The exhibitions at the Museo del Padro, the most elegant ones
Considered by many experts to be the most important museum in terms of European painting, the Museo Nacional del Prado brings together more than 8,000 paintings and nearly 1,000 sculptures by the most representative authors of the Spanish, Flemish and Italian schools of painting. This distinguished collection includes emblematic paintings such as Las Meninas by Velázquez and Las Majas by Goya, which reflect the tastes of the different Spanish dynasties that have succeeded one another over time, as many of the works were commissioned.
Works by artists such as El Greco, Bosch, Rubens, Titian, Murillo, Zurbarán, Fortuny, Sorolla and Van Dyck also abound. Visitors can also find references to French, German, British and Dutch painting, although their presence is more limited. Claude Lorrain, Nicolas Poussin, Dürer and Rembrandt are some examples.
Tailor-made tours of the Prado Museum in Madrid
Gran Hotel Inglés 5 stars Madrid offers you a tour of the exhibitions currently on display at the Prado Museum. Take note!
BARTOLOMÉ BERMEJO
Together with the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya and the support of the Comunidad de Madrid and the Fundación Banco Sabadell, the Museo del Prado aims to pay tribute to Bartolomé Bermejo (ca. 1440-h. 1501), a Cordovan Gothic painter influenced by Flemish and Italian painting whose work was relegated to oblivion after his death.
Until 27 January, Room C of the Jerónimos building will be exhibiting a total of 48 works from European and American museums, among which visitors can admire some of his best-known paintings: Saint Michael triumphant over the devil, Pietà Desplà and Antoni Joan de Tous.
Bermejo's use of the oil technique, his ability to reinterpret religious works and his incessant search for new areas such as landscape and portraiture are particularly noteworthy.
TWELVE PHOTOGRAPHERS AT THE PRADO MUSEUM
From last September until 13 January, the Museo Nacional del Prado in collaboration with Japan Tobacco International is presenting Twelve Photographers in the Museo del Prado, a journey through photography in which to contemplate the museum's valuable legacy from the perspective of twelve photographers belonging to three different generations: José Manuel Ballester, Bleda y Rosa, Javier Campano, Joan Fontcuberta, Alberto García-Alix, Pierre Gonnord, Chema Madoz, Cristina de Middel, Isabel Muñoz, Aitor Ortiz, Pilar Pequeño and Javier Vallhonrat.
The Lower North Gallery of the Villanueva Building will host this collection of 24 photographs in which visitors can get a first-hand look at one of these artists' vision of the museum and its collections.
ANTONIO MARÍA ESQUIVEL
Until next January, the Prado Museum will be exhibiting three religious-themed works by the Sevillian painter Antonio María Esquivel (1806 - 1857): The Fall of Luzbel, The Saviour and The Virgin Mary, the Infant Jesus and the Holy Spirit with Angels in the Background.
This selection of paintings gives us an insight into the spirit and essence of Esquivel, an artist clearly influenced by Baroque painters such as Murillo and a profound connoisseur of ancient sculpture and anatomical proportions.
Esquivel's work as a portraitist is equally remarkable. Often surrounded by literary figures, it is not surprising that most of his portraits depict writers of the period. Some of these works are on display in the museum, such as the portrait of José de Espronceda.
THE FOUNTAIN OF GRACE. A TABLE FROM THE ENVIRONMENT OF JAN VAN EYCK
From 23 October, the art gallery opens its doors to the public to present the Fountain of Grace, an exhibition that aims to raise awareness of the only work owned by the Museo del Prado from the environment of the master Jan van Eyck. The painting is shrouded in an aura of intrigue and mysticism, the exact author and origin of which are still uncertain to this day. It will be on display in Room C until 27 January.
Finally, I recommend these luxury plans in Madrid or where to have the best vermouth in Madrid.
