The Prado Masterpieces

by Museo Nacional del Prado

The first-ever comprehensive showcase of the masterpieces found in the collection of the Museo Nacional del Prado in Spain The Museo del Prado is the main Spanish national art museum, located in central Madrid. It features one of the world’s finest collections of European art, based on the former Spanish Royal Collection, and is unquestionably the best single collection of Spanish art. Founded as a museum of paintings and sculpture in 1819, it also contains important collections of other types of works. The Prado is one of the most visited sites in the world. The numerous works by Francisco de Goya, the single most extensively represented artist, as well as by Diego Velázquez, El Greco, Titian, Peter Paul Rubens, and Hieronymus Bosch are some of the highlights of the collection. Comprehensively showcasing the museum’s permanent collection, this magnificent book is the first of its kind to be published in association with the Prado, covering the collection from ancient sculpture to the nineteenth century. The book is arranged chronologically by the date of the artworks featured, creating a rich dialogue between artists from different schools working in the same period. There are sections looking in depth at specific painters (Velázquez, Titian, El Greco, and Bosch) and at the themes of still life, portraits, and religious paintings. The Masterpieces can be read as a complete history of Western art, as illustrated by the careful selection of highlights from the museum’s collection. Illustrated throughout

Genres: Art, History, Nonfiction

494 pages, Hardcover

Published September 13, 2016

Reviews

[Mark Porton · Rating 5 out of 5]

We’re off to Spain on Wednesday for a month, Madrid first stop, hence I lugged The Prado Masterpieces - Museo Nacional Del Prado from the library a few weeks ago to read up!

This book comes in at a healthy 4.2 kg and is about 30cm high and almost as wide with lots and lots of colour pics contained within its 480 pages. The book deals with the art in this world famous museum chronologically. Topics such as Painting and Devotion, Invention of Reality, Nature, Painting as a Science, The Joy of Matter (still life), Rubens and Velazquez, Goya, Modernity and much more are covered here.

This book is one you don’t read as such, even though the writing regarding artists, periods and different pieces of works is excellent. If you get a hold of this, you’ll be diving back and forth to check out whatever takes your fancy. Then boring everyone you know with your new-found knowledge.

My sole purpose here was to at least, recognise some works at the museum and know a tiny little bit about the likes of Raphael, Titian, El Greco, Rubens, Valazquez and Goya and some of their works. Not to the point where I can wax lyrically in front Raphael’s ‘The Holy Family with a Lamb’ - just loud enough to sound like a complete wanker. Rather, I just want to recognise some pieces – it makes the whole experience much more enjoyable methinks.

Now, all I am going to do here is show you some happy snaps of my favourite paintings – I hope you enjoy them.....



The Cardinal 1510-11 by Raphael (1483-1520)



The Nobleman with his Hand on his Chest c. 1580 by El Greco (1541-1614)



Dance of Mythological Characters and Villagers 1630-35 by Rubens (1577-1640) - one can almost see them moving hey?



The Crucified Christ c 1632 by Velazquez (1599-1660)

................and my favourite artist



Two Old Men Eating 1820-23 by Goya (1746-1828)

But one thing I didn't know is, Goya was also a splendid portrait painter (that's how much I know, or knew)



The Threshing Ground or Summer 1786 by Goya (1746-1828)

That's enough now - I hope you liked them

Hasto luego - Mark :))

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful primer devoted to a wondrous place. Go there if you can, and savor this if you can’t—or if you have—for it is one of the world’s greatest museums filled with spectacular images that will set your imagination ablaze and cause your heart to re-evaluate its purpose.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the heaviest books I've every had in my hands! But, worthwhile. It has stunning photos of the Prado's most famous paintings, and an interesting introduction.