The idea of creating a museum belongs to King Charles III, who commissioned the architect Juan de Villanueva to develop a project for the creation of the Museum of Natural Sciences. The Prado Museum's collection is one of the largest and largest collections of European art, however, the museum building is also a prime example of Spanish Neoclassical architecture and is an important tourist attraction in Madrid. Currently, the Prado has the richest exposition of Spanish painters. It is based on the work of three great masters: El Greco, Velazquez and Goya. But one cannot fail to mention other famous artists of the 15th - 19th centuries: Berruguete, Ribera, Zurbaran, Murillo.
1.Francisco Goya "Portrait of the family of Charles IV"(1800 oil on canvas)
King Charles IV ordered Goya to paint a group portrait of the royal family. Within a year, the painting was completed. We see sumptuous costumes glittering with jewels and royal regalia, however, the faces of the royal couple testify to a depressing lack of character. The haughty, arrogant man in the blue camisole on the left is the eldest son of the king, later a tyrant, Ferdinand VII. Nearby, turning away from him, stands his intended bride, who has not yet received an official proposal. Queen Marie-Louise, surrounded by younger children, is in the center of the picture, and the king stands aside, repeating the situation that has developed in their lives; his whole appearance expresses respect for the royal wife. The artist gives an accurate psychological description of each of those portrayed. The interpretation of the images of representatives of this royal family is extremely truthful. The royal couple expressed neither displeasure nor enthusiasm when they saw the work presented to them. Goya himself never received royal commissions again.
2. Diego Velasquez "Las Meninas"(1656-57, oil on canvas, 318 x 276 cm)
The painting "Las Meninas" is a recognized masterpiece of the artist. When describing the works of Velazquez in 1666, she was called "The Royal Family", "The Family of Felipe IV". We see, judging by the reflection in the mirror, how the king and queen, in tense poses, pose for the artist, who carefully peers at them, standing in front of the easel. This is the only painting by Velazquez in which the king and queen are depicted together, but very indistinctly, schematically. Philip is 30 years older than his second wife and is her uncle. Infanta Margherita at the time of writing was their only daughter. In the picture, there is also a freak dwarf, and a dwarf advancing on the dog with bitterness. But this is all secondary, the main thing is the silver glow that comes from the central group, and the amazing feeling of air space that fills the room. When the work on Las Meninas was nearing completion, the king took a brush from the maestro and painted on his camisole the sign of a Knight of the Order of Sant'Iago: they say, real art is higher than letters of antiquity of the family.
3. El Greco "The Adoration of the Shepherds"(1612-13g, oil on canvas, 319 x 180 cm)
This painting adorned the altar of the funerary chapel of the painter El Greco in the monastery of St. Dominica in Toledo. A large vertical canvas depicts a scene of shepherds worshiping the Christ Child. From the dark space of the picture, the artist pulls out two groups with light. the Virgin Mary with the Child, lying on a dazzling white piece of canvas, surrounded by the figures of shepherds immersed in twilight; the second group is angels and cherubs hovering over the Madonna and Child and the shepherds. According to one of El Greco's students, the shepherd in a red robe in the foreground is the artist's self-portrait. The work is remarkable for its surprising complexity of composition and color scheme. We find a lot of white colors in the picture, but what we see as truly dazzling and radiating is the Baby lying on the diaper. Even the angels flying above him, foreshadowing his fate as the Savior, do not disturb the mysteries of the simple being of a child.
4. Sculpture "Group from San Ildefonso"(found in 1623 in Rome)
The sculpture represents Orestes and Pylades, whose friendship has become a legend, at the moment when they make a sacrifice in honor of their return from Taurida with the image of Artemis (statuette presented). Thanks to this sacrifice, Orestes was cleansed and was freed from the punishment of the gods. Some authors identify these statues as depictions of the brothers Castor and Pollux. In the modern era, a Roman statue of the head of Antinous was attached to the left torso. Belonging to the Roman classicism of the Augustan era, this sculptural group is an excellent reflection of its inherent eclecticism. The first mention of this group dates back to 1623, when it was in the possession of Cardinal Massimi, at the Villa Ludovisi in Rome. After the death of the clergyman, the thing goes to the collection of Christina of Sweden, and then to the collection of the first Spanish king from the Bourbon dynasty, Philip V (1683-1746).
5. Flandes, John de (Hispaniola) "Crucifixion"(1509 - 1518, oil on canvas, 123 cm x 169 cm)
A documented work by John de Flandes, known only from the paintings he painted in Castile from 1496, when he enters the service of Isabella the Catholic. Juan de Flandes conceives the space of this "Crucifixion" as viewed from a low point of view and gives it an Italian touch, also due to the way the characters are positioned: with a predominance of straight lines, giving monumentality to the whole ensemble. To draw attention to the crucified Christ, located in the center, against the backdrop of the landscape, a semicircle of figures is created around him. Adding to the originality of the Flemish artist in presenting this iconographic theme is his mastery of technique, evident in the form in which he reproduces the characteristics of objects such as gems and coral scattered on the ground.
More than two million visitors enter its doors every year. It also houses one of the oldest and largest collections of the world's most famous works of art. Built as a natural history museum in 1775, the Prado Museum opened in 1819 and contains the finest works collected by the Spanish royal family, collected from various sources over the past two centuries. Finding space to house the work has always been a challenge, but after fourteen years of wrangling, delays and arguments, the museum has been expanded. The new building was designed by designer Raphael Monet. Construction cost 152 million euros and was completed in 2007. The result is a chic complex that includes glass-fronted buildings and eighteenth-century cloisters (the Church of San Jeronimo).
Buildings were restored, a restaurant, cafe and several shops were opened, temporary exhibition spaces, a restoration workshop and a new sculpture gallery were completed.
Among the main attractions of the Prado Museum are its early Flemish collection, including almost all 
the best works of Bosch and of course an incomparable display of Spanish art, in particular works by Velasquez (including Las Meninas), Goya (including Majas and Black Paintings) and El Greco.
The Prado Museum also contains a large collection of works by Italian artists (Titian) collected by Carlos V and Felipe II, both great patrons of the Renaissance. An excellent seventeenth century collection of Flemish and Dutch paintings collected by Felipe IV, including Rubens' Three Graces. The Prado Museum has also hosted a growing number of critically acclaimed temporary displays in recent years. 
Even after spending a whole day, you cannot do justice to everything that is here. We highly recommend making some targeted visits to the Del Prado Museum!
Walk through the Prado Museum
To follow the route suggested by the museum, turn right after entering Puerta de los Jeronimos and head towards the central hall - Sala de las Musas. From here you walk through the early Flemish, Italian and Spanish collections on the ground floor before moving on to the second floor. The sixteenth and seventeenth century tour with the Italian and French collections in the north wing leads to the Flemish and Dutch galleries on the second floor, where works by Rubens and Rembrandt are housed. This is followed again by a descent to the first floor, where visitors are led through the Spanish Golden Age collections with works from El Greco, Velazquez and Murillo before being presented with Goya's magnificent works that extend to the second floor. From there you return to the first floor again to Goya's Black Paintings before completing the tour of the grandiose historical epics that are the greatest masterpieces of the Spanish collection of the nineteenth century.
Prado Museum video
What you should definitely see in the Prado Museum!
The Prado Museum is too big for a single visit to do justice to the collections. If you do not have the opportunity to visit it several times and see all the works, here is a list of some works that should not be missed.
- The Garden of Earthly Delights by Bosch. A surreal masterpiece ahead of its time.
- The Triumph of Death by Peter Brüchel. A disturbing and eerie description of hell by a Flemish master.
- The Annunciation by Fra Angelico. A seminal renaissance work.
- Dürer's self-portrait. An insightful self-portrait of a German genius.
- The Descent from the Cross by Van der Weyden. An emotional and colorful description of the descent from the cross.
- Romanesque frescoes. Stunning frescoes from Romanesque churches in Segovia and Soria.
- David and Goliath (David and Goliath) Caravaggio. The Italian's theatrical use of chiaroscuro at its best.
- The Adoration of the Shepherds by El Greco. One of a series of works by a revolutionary mannerist of Greek origin.
- Artemisa by Rembrandt. The Dutchman used his wife Saskia as the model for this painting of the heroic queen.
- Sir Endymion Porter Van Dyke. An excellent work by the Dutch court painter, famous for his portraits of Charles I.
- Three Graces (The Three Graces) by Rubens. One of the great classic works of the Flemish genius.
- Charles V at Múhlberg Titian. Magnificent equestrian portrait of the Holy Roman Emperor.
- The Lavatorio Tintoretto. An epic masterpiece depicting Christ washing the disciples' feet. Once owned by Charles I.
- Goya's La Maja Desnuda y La Maja Vestida. A pair of highly seductive portraits of a woman reclining on the pillows of her bed, in one picture the girl is dressed, in the other she is naked.
- Dos y Tres de Mayo by Goya. Endless and iconic images of the horrors of war.
- Black Paintings (Black Paintings) Goya. A series of penetrating and haunting images of the end of Goya's career.
Of course, Spanish painting is most widely represented in the Prado: from the 12th century to the first third of the 19th century. The ground floor was occupied by paintings of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. We will see here medieval frescoes, Gothic, Renaissance masterpieces.
The first floor "belongs" to the works of the "Golden Age" painters. Here you will see the works of El Greco, Velazquez, Zurbaran, Ribera, Murillo. In the photo below, see one of the most valuable paintings of the Prado Museum - "Las Meninas" by Diego Velazquez, click on the photo to enlarge.
The exhibits of the museum are the creations of masters of different schools from all over the world. The German school of painting is represented by works of the 16th-18th centuries, represented by A. Durer, Lucas Cranach, Anton Raphael Mengs. An interesting collection of portraits by English painters of the 18th and 19th centuries is the work of Reynolds, Gainsborough, Lawrence.
French painting is presented quite brightly and extensively. The Spanish kings acquired the creations of French painters, these paintings have now become the property of the country. The first floor exhibits works by Lorrain and Poussin.
The art of sculpture is represented by works from the archaic and Roman eras to the creations of the Italians of the 16th-19th centuries.
Decorative arts is also reserved for places in the Prado: here we will see tables, consoles, ceramics and, of course, the "highlight" of the museum - the Dauphin's Treasure. The collection consists of the jewels and expensive items of Philip V, which he inherited from Ludwig the Great Dauphin. All these riches found their place in the halls of the basement.
Goya's masterpieces are located on three floors - 1, 2 and basement. About 500 works by Goya are shown in the halls of the Prado, including all the most famous ones - “The Third of May 1808 in Madrid”, “Nude Maja”, “Saturn devouring his son” and others.
Most visitors to the museum are observed from 10 am to 2 pm, as well as during the last two hours of its operation. It is better to choose a time right after lunch.
Keep your museum ticket until you exit.
Speak quietly, do not interfere with other visitors to get acquainted with the collections of the museum. Talking on a mobile phone is prohibited.
Filming and photography is prohibited, but some visitors manage to use small cameras and phones without the building workers noticing.
You can’t enter with bags, backpacks, umbrellas: all things are handed over to the cloakroom.
You can enter the Prado halls with a guide dog, but with the appropriate documents.
The museum has elevators, platforms, ramps, toilets on all floors.
There are mother and child rooms.
If you get hungry, then leave the museum and go straight through the Prado Alley to the neighboring streets. There are dozens of restaurants and eateries for every taste and budget. Local chefs create real masterpieces.
It is difficult to get around all the halls of the Prado in one day. We advise you to choose several expositions and halls for inspection. There will be a reason to return to the museum again.
If you are still in a hurry and want to see the maximum sights of Madrid in one day, then from the Prado Museum you can walk to and in 30 minutes.
Have fun walking around Madrid, and read our interesting articles about Spain ( links below).
There are places on the world map where the concentration of works of art per unit area differs sharply from the average. These include the Louvre in Paris, the St. Petersburg Hermitage. There are few museums in the world comparable to them. But they still exist.
Prado - Spanish Treasury
There is also a gallery in Madrid, with which, in terms of the collection of European works, and especially not a single collection, in any city, can be compared. The Prado Museum is unparalleled in the richness of the works by Velasquez, Goya, Bosch and many other masters of painting. It can be safely called the main attraction of the Spanish capital, and not to visit here means not to know this country and not to understand its soul.
Prado Museum - the top of the "golden triangle"
Treasures of painting are concentrated in the Pyrenees in three main galleries. The most famous art museums in Sofia, Thyssen Bornemiss and Prado) form a kind of "golden triangle" that attracts art lovers from all over the world. Even tourists who are not particularly interested in painting and sculpture visit these sights, and what they see makes such a strong impression that it often changes their view of art and the whole world around them. And there is nothing surprising in this. Many of the paintings collected here are known all over the world and have a certain magic. Their plots are captivating, the fates of the authors are tragic and mysterious, as are the stories of these works, which have magnetic properties for the inexperienced. Connoisseurs want to see with their own eyes the canvases known to them from reproductions and enjoy this discovery. After all, no printing, even the highest quality, gives a complete picture of the skill of the artist.
The basis of the collection of paintings
The collection of kings has been accumulating for more than three hundred years. Paintings by Spanish and foreign artists were purchased for cathedrals and churches, their subjects were mainly religious, but the expansion of cultural and economic ties in Spain contributed to genre diversity. Titian was Charles's favorite painter, and the basis of the modern exhibition originates from his collection of paintings. In 1548, the artist received a "secular" order for a portrait of the king in honor of the victory at the battle of Muhlberg. At the same time, paintings by famous European painters were acquired.
Until the 17th century, the contemplation of paintings was available only to the nobility. Art was considered the lot of the elite, there were no museums and art galleries in Spain, and the first public exposition, by royal will, was to receive a natural science direction. A place has already been chosen for it - the Prado Park in Madrid. Construction began in 1785, but it was not immediately completed. Charles III died, and his successor, King Charles IV, did not consider the museum important enough to finance it generously. At the beginning of the 19th century, Bonaparte attacked Spain, and there was no time for culture at all. The building under construction suffered from the invasion, in addition, a decision was made on its new purpose. Royal artistic treasures were to be brought here from the palaces of Madrid and Aranjuez.
The birth of the gallery
The Napoleonic Wars ended, and four years later, in 1819, the Prado Museum in Madrid opened. Philip II, unlike Charles V, lived in Spain and moved his father's collection from Brussels to the capital. Then there were relatively few paintings, a little more than three hundred, but they formed the basis of the gallery.
Philip II did a lot to ensure that the Prado Museum in Madrid became one of the best European art collections. Like Charles V, he was a connoisseur of the Italian school; during his reign, the collection was replenished with works by Tintoretto, Bassano, Veronese and many other painters. Philip paid tribute to Hieronymus Bosch, acquiring his paintings, including the best of them, The Garden of Delights. At the same time, the walls of the museum were decorated with masterpieces by Albrecht Dürer and Montaigny.
The Dutch diplomat Rubens successfully combined public service with the creation of immortal paintings. Arriving in Spain in 1628, he sold the paintings painted here to the king, and his other canvases adorned the Prado Museum in Madrid later, after the death of the artist.
Expansion of exposure
Time passed, and the status of the royal assembly became cramped for the Prado. The exposition expanded, in the second half of the 19th century it was enriched with paintings from the Escorial and some monastic collections. Since 1868, the Prado has been a museum in Spain, no longer owned by the royal dynasty, but by the whole country, with a nationwide status.
A significant event took place in 1927. Don Cabanes, a patron of the arts and one of the greatest collectors, made a generous donation. The canvas “John the Evangelist”, which depicts the beloved disciple of Christ, has replenished the rich collection of paintings devoted to the New Testament theme, which the Prado Museum in Madrid is so famous for. The paintings of this painter adorn the room reserved for them, along with the works of other Spanish masters. The selection of old Dutch authors is also extensive.
New architectural solutions and antiquity
In connection with the constant replenishment and expansion of the exposition at the turn of the last and current centuries, the issue of increasing the area has become relevant. The project of Raphael Monet was accepted as the basis for the reconstruction plan, and as a result of its implementation in 2007, new buildings appeared that meet all modern requirements, and at the same time are in harmony with the old part. The Prado Museum in Madrid today is a single architectural ensemble, including the monastery of San Jeronimo, built in the 18th century, modern buildings and main galleries. The work was not cheap, their estimate amounted to more than one and a half hundred million euros, but the result is worth the money spent.
The combination of ancient Spanish architecture with the latest achievements of modern architecture makes a joyful impression, denoting the continuity of eras and the eternity of great art.
Entrance to the museum and its plan
Not a single tourist visiting Madrid passes the central part of the city, where the Prado Museum is located. Cibeles Square, Atocha train station can serve as a reference point, there is also a very beautiful botanical garden.
For the convenience and systematization of the examination of the exposition, the administration has developed a route. Visitors enter the gate "Puertade los Jeronimos", then follow the central hall of the museum. On the ground floor there are collections of Flemish and Spanish paintings. They occupy the entire first floor, along with a collection of works from the Italian and XVI-XVII centuries, located in the north wing. You can also enter the museum through other gates named after the brilliant Spanish painters Murillo and Goya.
The second floor is entirely dedicated to Rembrandt and Rubens. From there, the staircase descends again, the exposition of the art of the "Golden Age", presented by Velázquez, Murillo and El Greco, begins. There are paintings by the great Goya on both floors, on the second floor there is his “black painting”. In the central part of the museum, all eras of European art are presented up to the masterpieces of the 19th century.
Visit the Prado and see the "Three Graces"
It is almost impossible to see all the works of the Prado in one visit, some of them stop, attracting attention for a long time. Real art lovers, who came here not just for show, repeat their visit more than once, preferring to spend all their free time in the gallery. As in other great treasures of world culture, there are works here that have become a kind of "visiting card" by which a connoisseur will always distinguish the Prado Museum in Madrid. Photos and reproductions of Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights, Brüchel's Triumph of Death, and Caravaggio's David and Goliath have become symbols of this gallery. There are other masterpieces that admirers of high art from all over the world come to see. "Descent from the Cross", written by Vander Weyden, Rubens' "Three Graces", and, of course, "Black Paintings" by Goya cannot leave anyone indifferent.
How much does it cost to visit the Prado
In our time, it has become accessible not only to moneybags, but also to people of average means. Unlike the rich, they have to think about saving during the trip, and, as you know, the love of art is not always directly proportional to the amount of income. To the credit of the management of the Prado Museum, it should be noted that the cost of entrance tickets to this wonderful art gallery is democratic. You can visit it for 14 euros, the most expensive (23 euros) this pleasure will cost those who wish to use the services of a guide, but there are several reliable ways to reduce the cost of communicating with the beautiful. The last two hours on Sundays are free. Elderly citizens and students from a united Europe, teachers and journalists also pass freely. Students from other countries pay a symbolic sum of three euros, which is less than a cup of coffee in Madrid. In addition, there are other promotions that can be found at the museum's box office. The employees are friendly and will always help you choose the most economical time to visit the Prado. It is especially interesting that children are allowed in here for free, and everyone who has not reached the age of eighteen is considered as such.
Infrastructure Prado
In addition to exhibition halls, there is all the necessary infrastructure. Modern sculptors have the opportunity to present their work in a gallery designed for seasonal exhibitions. One of the best restoration workshops in Europe has also been created, where there are conditions for conducting especially thorough examinations both for their own exhibits and for assisting other world museum funds.
Visitors have not been forgotten either. Given that one day cannot be enough to visit the Prado and get acquainted with its treasures, and guests spend many hours in it, sometimes several days in a row, they have created conditions for relaxation. You can refresh yourself in the restaurant and cafe. There are also shops where tourists buy souvenirs. The park adjacent to the exhibition complex serves as a resting place for visitors, tired but happy.
The Prado National Museum is located on one of the most popular tourist routes in the Spanish capital - Boulevard of the Arts. In addition to the famous paintings "Las Meninas" by Velasquez and "The Third of May 1808 in Madrid" by Goya, the halls of the museum showcase masterpieces of Spanish, Italian and Flemish painting. The Prado's most valuable collection includes 8,600 paintings and over 700 sculptures. Before visiting the museum, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the reference material.
The Prado Museum houses the largest collection of Spanish paintings in the world. You can start acquaintance with it from the 11th century - in front of you are fragments Mozarabic frescoes from the church of San Baudelio de Berlanga. Further in the halls, where works from the Spanish-Flemish Gothic to the Renaissance are presented, you can see paintings by Bartolome Bermejo, Pedro Berruguete, Juan de Juanes and Luis de Morales. In the halls dedicated to creativity El Greco, such masterpieces of this artist as "Knight with a hand on his chest" and "Trinity" are stored.
Golden age represented by the paintings of Ribera, Zurbaran and Murillo, which preceded the work Velasquez. The most famous masterpieces of this artist - Las Meninas and Spinners - can also be seen in the halls of the Prado. in halls dedicated to Francisco Goya, who worked at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, his works are presented: from cardboard for tapestries created for the Royal Tapestry Manufactory, to “Gloomy Pictures”, with which the artist painted the walls of his “House of the Deaf”. Some rooms are dedicated to 19th century painting. In them you can see paintings by Fortuny, father and son of Madrazo, as well as Sorolla.
Other collections
Italian painting is important in understanding the transition from medieval art to the Renaissance. In addition, she had a huge influence on the Spanish Baroque. Among the paintings of the Quattrocento era (XV century), the Annunciation deserves special attention. Fra Angelico, series "Novella about Nastagio degli Onesti" Botticelli, "Assumption of the Virgin" Mantegna and "Dead Christ Supported by an Angel" Antonello la Messina. The heyday of classicism in the era of the Cinquecento (XVI century) is represented by several maidens of Raphael, and the paintings Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese, the great artists of the Venetian school, are among the most valuable exhibits of the Prado Museum. Various trends of Italian Baroque are represented by works Caravaggio, Guido Reni and Annibale Carracci.
A large collection of Flemish paintings appeared due to the close political ties of the Spanish monarchs with Flanders. The collection of the Prado Museum includes, as the most significant works of representatives of the early Netherlandish painting, which were acquired by Philip II, such as "Descent from the Cross" Van der Weyden and The Garden of Earthly Delights Bosch, as well as works characteristic of the heyday of baroque at the Brussels court Rubens, families Bruegel, Jordans and Teniers, which are represented in the Prado in large numbers. The French, Dutch and German schools are also present in the museum's collection. To name just a few of the representatives of these art schools: Albrecht Dürer,Claude Lorrain,Rembrandt, Antoine Watteau. Less well-known are very interesting halls dedicated to sculpture and decorative arts. Particularly noteworthy are the Roman sculptures, the Treasures of the Dauphin (a set of dishes inherited by Philip V) and the works of the Leoni masters, commissioned by Philip II and Charles V.
Storymuseum
The Prado Museum first opened its doors on November 10, 1819. At the initiative of Queen Maria Isabella de Braganza, wife of Ferdinand VII, the building, which the architect Juan de Villanueva designed for the Museum of Natural History, became the place of storage of a significant part of the royal collection of paintings. Later, the funds of the art gallery increased thanks to the acquisitions and gifts of private individuals.
During the Spanish Civil War, the art was stored on the ground floor of the museum, protected from possible bombardment by sandbags. Then, on the recommendation of the League of Nations, the collection was taken through Valencia to Geneva. The paintings were returned to Madrid immediately after the outbreak of World War II.
Periodic exhibitions
The old building of Villanueva houses most of the collections of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts. Immediately behind it, next to the monastery of Hieronymites, designed by the architect Rafael Moneo a new adjoining building was built, which hosts periodic exhibitions. There are also restoration workshops, a concert hall, cafes, restaurants and office space. The museum also owns the Cason building, the former ballroom of the now defunct Buen Retiro Palace. Today it houses a library and a reading room for researchers.
