The Museo del Prado is Madrid's premier tourist attraction and one of the oldest and greatest collections of art in the world.
Originally opened to the public in 1819, it houses all the finest works collected by Spanish royalty. The museum has 7000 paintings in all, of which around 1500 (still a pretty daunting tally) are on permanent display.
The museum is divided up by schools, (la escuela española, flamenca, italiana, francesa, holandesa, alemana e inglesa).
La Edad de Oro, the Golden Period, is represented by Velázquez and El Greco. Diego Velázquez (1599-1660) was court painter for Felipe IV whose family is represented in many of his paintings. Velázquez's masterpiece is La Meninas. Las Hilanderas, showing the royal tapestry factory work; Christ Crucified; Los Borrachos (The Drunkards) and the Surrender of Breda are other magnificent works done by Velázquez.
This page is authored and maintained by Louise Morales.
Last edited 08/2000