New Galleries Open at the Prado in Madrid
Spain’s Most Important Art Museum Expands with 19th Century Works
Oct 24, 2009
It may be hard to believe that one of the world’s largest and best art museums has become even bigger and better. But Madrid’s renowned Prado has done just that, adding 12 new galleries showing 176 works, several of which are newly acquired. Some have never previously been exhibited to the public. These works are all from the 19th century, and they complete the Prado’s continuum of Spanish art from the 12th century Medieval works through the avante-garde movement in which Spain played an important role in the early 20th century.
New Paintings at the Prado
Added to the displayed collections are 176 paintings, watercolors and sculptures that include the newly acquired José de Madrazo’s The French Cuirassier, Penitents in the Lower Church at Assisi by José Jiménez Aranda and Large Landscape (Aragón) by Francisco Domingo Marqués. Maria Figueroa as a young girl dressed as a Menina by Joaquín Sorolla, purchased in 2000, joins the artist’s And they still say fish is expensive!, social realism masterpiece and Boys on the Beach, perhaps the Prado’s most celebrated modern painting.
Second Major Recent Expansion for the Prado
This is not the first recent expansion at the Prado. In 2007, a major new section designed by Rafael Moneo added 50% more gallery space to the already large Prado. With the new 2009 expansion, the museum has the world’s foremost collection of Spanish paintings. Its 4,600 works date from the Middle Ages through the 19th century including outstanding masterpieces by Berruguete, El Greco, Goya, Murillo, Ribera, Sorolla, Velázquez and Zurbarán
New Galleries Begin with Goya
Arranged chronologically, the new galleries begin with Francisco Goya, whose representation in the Prado now totals 140 works. Two galleries show historical paintings and one gallery displays landscapes. The final galleries highlight Naturalism, Sorolla and landscapes by Aureliano Beruete.
El Paseo del Arte
The Prado Museum is on the centrally located Paseo del Prado, a wide boulevard with a park-lined promenade through its center, which is known as El Paseo del Arte – the Boulevard of the Arts. Other outstanding art museums along this avenue are the Reina Sofia National Art Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the newly opened CaixaForum art space.
Prado Art Museum Open Hours
The Prado is open, Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., admission is about $12 for those over 18. Under 18 are free
For information about Spain, contact the Tourist Office of Spain in New York (212-265-8822); Miami (305-358-1992); Chicago (312-642-1992) or Los Angeles (323-658-7195)
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