Prado at the Hermitage

News: 2011-04-01

PRADO at the HERMITAGE
If you happen to arrive at St.Petersburg in April or May, you can catch a “lucky strike”, when visiting the Hermitage, that currently features 66 paintings from Madrid’s Prado Museum – a high-quality collection of Spanish, Italian and Flemish schools, where each of the paintings is a masterpiece. 2011 is the year of Spain in Russia and of Russia in Spain. This exhibition is one of the most outstanding events, devoted to it.

Like the Russian tsars, the Spanish kings were known for their love of art. The royal passion for collecting art and supporting prominent talents helped to compile the Prado collection.

King Carlos V and his son Philip II were the patrons of Titian. Philip IV, the most sophisticated connoisseur of all the Spanish kings, made Velazquez his court artist, while Carlos IV appointed Goya the first artist of the king.’ Ferdinand VII also was a collector and patron of art. It was he, who decided to found the Royal Art and Sculpture Museum (it opened in 1819), which later became known as the Prado Museum.

The exhibition embraces canvases of XV-XVII centuries by Western European artists, including Bosch, Raphael, Rubens, El Greco, Goya, Titian and others.

Prado at the Hermitage” runs through May 29. Don’t miss the chance of enjoying the genuine world treasures!