Long Profile of the Museo Nacional del Prado Museum

The Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid was established in 1819 with its art collection coming from the Spanish Royal Collection.

The Museo Nacional del Prado was originally home to King Charles III’s Natural History Cabinet in 1785 in a building which he commissioned architect Juan de Villanueva to construct. However it was not until Charles’ grandson Ferdinand VII and his wife Queen María Isabel de Braganza chose to exhibit the Royal Museum of Paintings and Sculptures in the same building, that it was then renamed the National Museum of Painting and Sculpture and eventually came into being as the Museo Nacional del Prado.

Besides exhibiting the royal collection, another aim was to show the importance and relevance of Spanish art in comparison to other European art. With the establishment of the Museum, the first catalogue published in 1819 included 311 Spanish paintings. The collection increased during the 16th century.

Additionally, when the Museo del la Trinidad closed in 1872, and the Museo de Arte Moderno closed in 1971, their collections were added to the Prado. Key works such as the two Majas by Goya were added, while many bequests have added depth to the collection.

The Museum’s mission is to protect and conserve “the Spanish Heritage related to the Museum,” to exhibit the collection for research and for public enrichment and enjoyment, to support educational programs and cultural activities to further understanding about the collection, to develop research and training programs for arts professionals, and to collaborate with other museums or cultural institutions.

The Museo Nacional del Prado is located in Madrid, Spain near the Atoche Train Station.

In May 2011, the Museo Nacional del Prado signed an agreement with the Patrimonio Nacional stating that the two institution’s restoration teams will research and restore Rogier Van der Weyden’s Crucifixion, the Flemish masterpiece, which was painted around 1460. The panel painting requires a lengthy examination to determine the best course of conservation.

The Museo Nacional del Prado is world renowned for its supreme collection of European paintings and sculptures from the 12th to the 19th Centuries. With a collection of 7,600 paintings, 1,000 sculptures, 8,200 drawings, and thousands of prints, it is not possible to display the collection in its entirety. Presently, less than 1,000 works are on view in the main building, while over 3,000 works are on loan to other cultural institutions and the rest of the collection is in storage.

Famous artworks in the collection include paintings by the Spanish Masters: Velasquez, Zurbaran, el Greco, Goya, and Picasso. The highlight of the collection is Velasquez's phenomenal painting Las Meninas.

Other notable masterpieces include paintings such as Hieronymous Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights, Dürer’s Self-Portrait, Ruben’s The Three Graces, Tintoretto’s Christ Washing the Disciples’ Feet, Goya’s The Family of Charles IV, Rogier van der Weyden’s The Descent from the Cross, and Mantegna’s The Death of the Virgin.

Highly esteemed painter Diego Velázquez who was court artist to King Philip IV deeply influenced the Spanish royal collection and guided them into their selection of Italian art. Velazquez’ masterful painting Las Meninas (1656) is one of the top canonical works in Western art history and is proudly displayed at the Prado.

Check their museum job listings regularly.

Note that a background in art history and Spanish is recommended.

Many museums offer internships in their various departments and it is a good way for college students to get their initial start.

Museo Nacional del Prado, Paseo del Prado s/n. Madrid, 28014 Spain, Tel. +34 91 330 2800

Email: museo.nacional@museodelprado.es

Metro: Banco de España and Atocha stations.

Museo Nacional del Prado's website

Museum Hours: From Tuesday to Sunday: 9am – 8pm (including holidays); Closed: On Mondays throughout the year (including holidays) and January 1, Good Friday, May 1, and December 25.