Reuters North American News Service, November 19th, 2007
MADRID, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Madrid's newly extended Prado art
museum will unveil a less well-known side to one of Spain's most
emblematic historical painters, Diego Velazquez, on Tuesday.
Velazquez, whose work is one of the big draws at the
museum's world-famous art collection, made his name through his
portraits of the 17th-century Spanish royal family and other
powerful figures in Europe, as well as of commoners.
The Prado's latest exhibition -- "Velazquez's fables.
Mythology and Holy History from the Golden Age" -- will gather
28 of his works including mythological and religious scenes.
"It's up to the Prado to take a further step in the
understanding of the painter", said Gabriele Finaldi, assistant
director for conservation and research at the Prado.
Among the works is Venus at Her Mirror, considered one of
Velazquez's greatest achievements and his only surviving female
nude painting, on loan to Madrid from London's National Gallery.
"(This exhibition) is all Velazquez apart from his portraits
and landscapes", Miguel Zugaza, the Prado's director, said on
Monday at the launch of the exhibition attended by the Spanish
king and queen.
Other acclaimed Velazquez paintings include Christ on the
Cross, The Spinners and The Drunkards.
Twelve Velazquez works are on loan from other museum
including Christ in the House of Martha and Mary, from the
National Gallery, which opens the showcase, and The Supper at
Emmaus from the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin.
The chronologically themed exhibition runs from when he
lived in his native Seville and painted religious scenes,
through his time in Italy and to his later work for the Spanish
court.
Last month, El Prado opened a 152 million euro ($222
million) extension which added 50 percent more space to the
museum, allowing it to show more of its collection.
