Museo del Prado

The Museo del Prado in Madrid is Spain's national art museum. Much of its early core came from the Spanish royal collection. Its galleries focus on European painting from the late Middle Ages through the nineteenth century, with particular depth in Spanish, Italian, and Flemish work. Four paintings in this catalogue are held there: two by Goya, one by Rubens, and one by Bosch. Their dates and subjects show the range of the Prado's holdings, from Bosch's triptych to Goya's dark mythological scene.

Paintings from this catalogue at the Museo del Prado

Francisco Goya painted two works in this group. The Third of May 1808, dated 1814, shows Spanish civilians before a French firing squad outside Madrid; a man in a white shirt raises his arms at the center, and a lantern sits on the ground. Saturn Devouring His Son, painted between 1820 and 1823, is a dark scene of the Titan biting into a human body. Goya painted it on the walls of his house outside Madrid, the Quinta del Sordo, before it was transferred to canvas.

Peter Paul Rubens painted The Three Graces between 1630 and 1635. The picture shows three nude women in a landscape, their arms linked and their bodies partly covered by a veil. Rubens kept the work in his own collection until his death.

Hieronymus Bosch painted The Garden of Earthly Delights, dated 1490 to 1500. This triptych has Eden on the left panel, a crowded central scene of nude figures, fruit, and animals, and a harsh right panel of punishment. When the outer wings are closed, the reverse shows a grisaille view of the world during creation.

Before you go

Before you go, check the Museo del Prado website for current gallery locations. Any work can be away on loan or moved for conservation. Works on paper rotate more often, so confirm if you are looking for a specific drawing or print.