“This exhibition looks back on two hundred years of history shared by the Museum and society, as well as focusing on Spain’s heritage policy, the developments that helped to build up the Museum’s collections, and the transformation of the Prado into a point of reference so that Spanish and foreign writers, intellectuals and artists could reflect on Spain’s past and the country’s collective identity. 

Organised around the art and documentary collections at the Prado (both visual and sound archives), which shall be exhibited alongside works by artists who have come into contact with the Museum over the last two centuries (such as Renoir, Manet, Chase, Picasso, Arikha, Rosales, Saura and Pollock, amongst others), the exhibition presents a total of 168 original works, 34 from different Spanish and foreign institutions, together with a significant variety of complementary materials such as documents, maps, pictures, photographs and audiovisual installations. 

Since the Museo Real opened its doors on 19th November 1819 with works from the Royal Collections, this institution has served as one of the leading depositaries for the history of Western art, a key point of reference for Spanish culture and an object of collective pride. Some two hundred years after it was founded, the Museo del Prado would like to reflect on all this and share its celebrations, especially with those who visit the exhibition, an exhibition designed to provide a rich insight into the Museum’s development and historical significance.” — Museo del Prado

Museo del Prado 1819-2019: A Place of Memory was organised by Javier Portús, Chief Curator of Spanish Painting (up to 1700) at Museo del Prado.  

Title image: Exhibition galleries “1819-2019. A place of memory”. Photo © Museo Nacional del Prado. 

Images courtesy Museo del Prado.