The Prado Museum, located in the glorious city of Madrid , has one of the most impressive collections in the entire world. The size of its collection is only comparable to that of the Louvre Museum in Paris and the British Museum in London. It is practically impossible to see the collection in one or two days of visit. This is why visitors prefer to go directly to where their favorite works are.
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One of the most famous works by Diego Velázquez made in 1656. The work consists of a wonderful portrait of the Infanta Margarita (dressed in white) surrounded by her servants and the ladies of the court. The importance of this painting lies in Velázquez’s amazing ability to create complex compositions, make use of perspective, portray light, and create particular atmospheres . This painting has been analyzed ad nauseam, as it is full of symbols through the characters that make up the image, such as the distant reflection of the kings of Spain, the presence of the artist himself in the painting, etc.
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Made in 1498 by Albrecht Dürer . This self-portrait shows the painter with a mountainous landscape in the background, in aristocratic clothing and with a severe gaze. Dürer’s work is known for its superb ability to capture detail, for its precise stroke, for its realism in capturing the human figure and landscapes, and for its use of an absolutely wonderful range of golds. There is a tiny inscription under the window frame that reads: “1498, I painted this painting according to my figure. This is the 26-year-old Albrecht Dürer. ” Dürer was undoubtedly satisfied with his creation. This painting came into the hands of King Philip IV thanks to a sale of works of art by King Charles I of England
Triptych made between 1500 and 1505 by Hieronymus Bosh . In the work three scenes are shown : the left panel dedicated to Paradise , with the creation of the world, Adam and Eve and the source of life¸ the right panel dedicated to hell . The central panel is the Garden of Earthly Delights itself, where the human race dedicates its life to satisfying its carnal pleasures and performing sinful acts to satisfy itself. Although it seems to be a work with fairly simple moralizing intentions, this is one of the most complex and enigmatic works of Bosco . It seems to be a surreal work, but it really is one of the flamenco renaissance.
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Made by the master Francisco de Goya y Lucientes in 181 4. This work shows a portrait of the executions of Spanish patriots by Napoleon’s army, as a result of their uprising against the French occupation in May 1808 . It is a dramatic and tense scene, which is emphasized thanks to the use of chiaroscuro and the detailed gestural and psychological representation of the characters involved . The lower left part of the painting still preserves the damage done to the painting thanks to the transfer made during the Spanish Civil War.
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Made by the Spanish Juan Sánchez Cotán in 1602 . This painting is the portrait of the food that rests inside a kitchen shelf of the time. It is a rich composition full of sobriety and intimacy. In addition, it is made with an impressive realism, achieved not only by the exactness of the line, the vividness of the colors, but also by the good use of light and shadows.
Made from 1795 to 1800 by Francisco de Goya y Lucientes . It is said that the most beautiful – and nowadays immortal- woman portrayed is the Duchess of Alba but she has also been identified as Pepita Tudo, lover of Godoy – the first owner of the famous work – in 1797. This painting accompanies La Maja Vestida . La Maja Desnuda is a wonderful example of the traditional Spanish nude, although the daring gaze of the model, looking directly into the viewer’s eyes, has been one of the most important advances in the work.
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Made in 1425 by the Italian Renaissance Fra Angelico in the Santo Domenico monastery in Florence . The central panel shows Adam and Eve being expelled from paradise and the Angel Gabriel’s annunciation to the Virgin Mary . It is a portrait of the curse and salvation of humanity. Below, we see scenes from the life of Mary: her birth, her wedding to Joseph, the birth of Christ, etc. It is a meticulous work in natural and human details.
Fra Angelico dedicated his life to religious art . His style is defined by the union of the late Gothic style with the new Renaissance language . In his work we also see certain key advances in the use of perspective .
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Made by José de Ribera (also known as El Españoleto ) in 1631 . The painting is a portrait of Magdalena Ventura, a famous woman who came to the Royal Palace due to her unusual beard and masculine features . The charm that Viceroy Fernando Afán de Ribera developed, led him to want such a rarity documentary. The painting is full of feminine symbolism and a lot of calm and intimacy, making the portrait extremely respectful and not a sensationalist work that seeks to exalt human oddities.
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Made around 1578 and 1580 by Doménikos Theotokópoulos , also known as El Greco . It is a canvas from his first Spanish period and it is one of his most important works. The person portrayed is of unknown identity, although some claim that he is the Marqués de Montemayor or Miguel de Cervantes . In its time it became the classic representation of the Spanish of the Golden Age . Manuel Machado dedicated a poem to this painting, with the same name:
This stranger is a Christian
of serious bearing and black clothing,
where the hilt no longer shines,
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of his admirable Toledo rapier.
Made by Peter Paul Rubens in 1615 . This image shows three beautiful and sensual naked young women, who celebrate the fertility of the earth, since one of the young women identifies with Ceres, goddess of fertility and harvests. The theme of Nature as a constant generator of life is frequent in Rubens’ painting, who often associates it with sexuality. Rubens is also known for his portrayal of human skin and the female body. In this case, by placing the cornucopia between the legs of one of the nymphs, Rubens surely intends to use sexual symbolism to emphasize the idea of the abundance and fecundity of Nature. The fruits and animals were painted by Frans Snyders.
