Today we will be looking at The Prado Museum’s most incredible pieces of art.
For those not in the know, The Prado Museum, or Museo Nacional de Prado, is a Spanish art
museum located in central Madrid.
As the capital’s premier art destination visitors can expect to find one of the largest
collections in the world.
It has seemingly everything you could want, so whether you’re a diehard Baroque-head
or more of a Renaissance man, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for.
Today we will be showcasing six of The Prado’s most incredible pieces.
And be sure to stay till the end of the video to hear about the absolute best piece of their
collection!
6.
Goya’s The Third of May
When you’re at the premiere art museum of Spain, it’s only fitting that you start
your journey with pieces that proudly tell the country’s history, and that’s exactly
what you get with Francisco Goya’s The Third of May 1808.
The painting is just over two centuries old and commemorates the Spanish resistance of
France during the Napoleonic Wars.
It truly is a master class in playing with light, as Goya shines his focus over a crowd
of Spanish rebels, highlighted by a man in a white shirt desperately extending his arms
in innocence.
Meanwhile, the devious invaders lurk in the shadows, slaughtering these Spanish citizens
by firing squad.
It is a testament to the power of visual storytelling.
The painting firmly plants itself in addressing the horrors of war while also celebrating
Spanish bravery in the face of certain death.
It fits nicely in a Spanish museum and compliments any visitor’s education of Spanish history
while touring through.
5.
El Greco’s ‘The Adoration of the Shepherds’
El Greco represents part of The Prado Museum’s Spanish Renaissance collection.
El Greco takes a subject that most people have some familiarity with, the story of the
birth of Jesus, and creates his own masterpiece from the idea.
The Adoration of the Shepherds is far from just a carbon copy of the old standby features
though.
The scene is animated through striking contrasts in lighting and dynamic poses to pulse energy
throughout the painting.
It may sound odd, but viewing this piece is actually quite thrilling.
And even if biblical art isn’t your cup of tea, no trip to a major art museum is complete
without at least visiting a Renaissance piece.
So your pilgrimage might as well be to one of the best Renaissance pieces in the museum.
4.
Goya’s The Dog
The fact that this is Goya’s second piece on this list is more a testament to him as
an artist than anything else.
It is important to note that Goya is better represented at the Prado than any other artist,
but his work very much deserves that honor.
The Dog may look relatively simple, but that is actually a huge part of its appeal.
A dirty yellowish-brown coats the sky with a curved, darker brown ground curling along
the lower quarter of the image.
Behind this sloped “ground” is a small head of dog, barely peeking and looking up
at a shadow that drapes itself over the right side of the painting.
Much has been said about what Goya meant by The Dog.
Some believe the dog’s unmistakably nervous expression shows his fear of the futile struggle
against evil and his looking to the heavens for help.
Others argue that the dog is raising its head above the horizon to look at something off
screen that deeply worries and scares it.
Regardless, Goya proves that a lot can be said with very little and seeing The Dog in
person can give you a lot to think about.
It may come as natural to try and compare Goya’s masterpieces, but really these pieces
are best observed completely separately.
Celebrating something unique about one can cause you to side eye the other, when in reality,
both are exceptional creations that deserve equal time and praise.
3.
Bosch' Garden of Earthly Delights The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus
Bosch is easily one of the most complex installments in the museum.
Looking at this great work is like examining a 16th century I Spy picture.
You could look a thousand times and notice something new each instance, and if you are
trying to uncover the meaning behind it all, be prepared to dedicate some serious thinking
time as this piece has a lot to digest.
Bosch’ work is divided into three panels each with its own scene.
The first panel depicts Adam and Eve with Adam experiencing the first spark of human
sexual attraction within the Garden of Eden.
The central panel escalates things to show a gathering of people in the garden enjoying
themselves with both sexual and non sexual pleasures amongst the animals.
And lastly, the right panel shows Hell as a dark and terrifying pace, completely different
from the panels before it.
Much can be said about the meaning of all this, but one common understanding is that
this is a warning against lust.
From Adam and Eve’s original sin to the proliferation of sin after, it will always
lead down the road of eternal damnation.
But even that is just one interpretation and is far from the absolute truth.
Bosch is something of a mystery himself and appreciators can only guess what his intended
message must have been.
2.
The Triumph of Bacchus by Diego Velazquez
If you hadn’t gathered it by this point, religion and history are popular subject matters
for art in the Prado Museum, and Diego Velazquez’s The Triumph of Bacchus is an interesting crossroad
between the two.
The painting depicts a group of men drinking with none other than the Roman god of wine,
Bacchus at the center.
Bacchus is clearly distinguished from the rest by his pale white skin and near nude
outfit.
What’s remarkable about this image though is the genuinely detailed expressions Velazquez
is able to capture.
Right next to Bacchus, two of the drunks sit staring directly at the onlooker.
It isn’t clear though if their smiles are a welcoming gesture or an indirect warning.
Regardless, it truly is an unsettling feeling.
Velazquez is at his best here, demonstrating his mastery of shadows and lighting.
The Triumph of Bacchus stands as a message to those toiling through the difficulties
of daily life that there is a way to get rid of your problems, at least for a little while.
And while that message isn’t recommended, the temptation of Bacchus’s wine may resonate
with many who come to see it.
1.
The Garden of Love, 1610 by Peter Paul Rubens
Now, the most incredible painting at The Prado Museum.
With so many iconic options, it is hard to choose just one must see attraction, but it
is extremely difficult to ignore the work of Peter Paul Rubens, specifically his masterpiece
The Garden of Love.
It is an absolutely breathtaking exhibit.
This is a classic Baroque piece by one of the most influential Baroque creators, filled
with exaggerated movement and symbols aplenty.
If you want one single painting to sum up this era of art, this is an ideal candidate.
The cherry on top of it all is that this painting is presumably a celebration of Ruben’s own
real life marriage to his second wife Hélène Fourment.
Who doesn’t love a story about love?
You can take days figuring out what the symbols of this piece are supposed to represent.
From the fountains to the cherubs every part of this picture means something.
For visitors looking to jump into the fascinating world of art appreciation, The Garden of Love
is a fun-filled test in decoding the message beyond the image.
It may not be the Prado’s most famous piece, though by no means is it an unknown, but it
is certainly one of its most incredible.
So there it is, the six paintings you need to see at The Prado Museum in Madrid.
Whether you are an art enthusiast or a complete rookie, these world renowned pieces are sure
to be time well spent.
And please, let us know in the comments any other artists at the Prado you feel deserve
some time in the sun!
And as always, where to next?