Prado

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Spanish art gallery containing the national collection of pictures. The building was designed as a natural history museum and begun in 1785; it became an art gallery in 1818 under Ferdinand VII.

It comprises many great works accumulated over three centuries by the monarchs Charles V, Philip II, and Philip IV and by the religious houses of Spain. It ranks as one of the world's greatest art collections and unquestionably holds the greatest collection of Spanish masters, including Velázquez (over 60 works), El Greco, Zurbarán, Ribera, Murillo, and Goya.

The Spanish connection with the Netherlands helps to account for the richness of the Flemish School. It contains the greatest group of works by Bosch, whose strange genius was favoured by Philip II, some outstanding works by Pieter Brueghel, and over 60 works by Rubens. It also has a fine Adoration of the Magi by Memlinc, and Van der Weyden's Descent from the Cross.

The attachment of the Hapsburgs to Venetian art is evidenced by the wealth of paintings by Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese. There are also paintings by Raphael, Rembrandt, Poussin, Claude, Dürer, Holbein and Mor.

Black recalls the country's tragic past. White reflects the Georgians' hopes for the future. Dark red is the national colour and is said to represent happiness. Effective date: 14 November 1990. >>