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About Prado Museum Madrid
The Prado Museum houses masterpieces like Velázquez's "Las Meninas," Goya's "The Third of May 1808," and Bosch's "The Garden of Earthly Delights." Home to over 8,600 paintings, it's a journey through centuries, highlighting Spanish, Italian, and F...
Also Known As
Museo Nacional del Prado
Madrid Prado MuseumAbout
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Commissioned by Charles III in 1785, Prado Museum was originally designed by Juan de Villanueva as a natural science museum. King Ferdinand VII and Queen Maria Isabel of Braganza later opted to use it to house the royal paintings, and the Museo Nacional Del Prado opened its doors in 1819.
Prado Museum boasts one of the most extensive collections of Francisco de Goya’s works, including over 150 paintings, over 600 drawings, over a 100 handwritten documents, and a selection of prints.
The most famous painting in the museum is Velázquez’s Las Meninas, one of the largest canvases from the Sevillian painter. Considered controversial for its defiance of genre, this snapshot of life at the Spanish court is as unsettling as it is captivating.
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History
The 18th-century Neoclassical building that houses the Prado Museum Madrid was the brainchild of the famous architect Juan de Villanueva. However, it was originally meant to house the Natural History Cabinet. It was King Charles III’s grandson, King Ferdinand VII who made the decision to transfer it into the Royal Museum, later renamed the National Museum of Paintings and Sculptures.
The Museo Nacional del Prado first opened its doors to the public in 1819. Its catalog at that time included only 311 paintings. It was only in the 16th century, under the rule of Charles V that its collection started to grow. At present, the Prado Museum Madrid is home to more than 7,500 paintings including Francisco Goya’s La Maja Desnuda, Raphael’s The Cardinal, and Titian’s Venus and Adonis.
History of Prado Museum
Architecture
It was in 1819 that the Prado Museum Madrid replaced the Natural History Cabinet. Over the years, the building underwent numerous expansions to accommodate its growing collection of artworks.
In 2007, architect Rafael Moneo designed a new building near the Jerónimos cloister, which is considered to be the most important expansion in the museum’s history. Currently, the Prado Museum Madrid is made up of several buildings - the Villanueva building, the Jerónimos Cloister, the Casón del Buen Retiro, the administrative building, and the Hall of Kingdoms.
Programs & Activities
Prado Museum Madrid has always placed importance on learning and education. For the same reason, it runs numerous activities, internships, programs, and projects for children, youngsters, and adults.