I have visited Museo del Prado which is renowned for having one of the best collections in the world. It s basis is the Spanish royal collection which has now been built on, containing world famous works by Velazquez, Goya, El Greco, Titian, Rubens and many more. I think the favourite work I saw was “The garden of earthly delights” by Hieronymous Bosch. Its a large triptych depicting the creation of the earth, for a 16th century painting the style is surprisingly modern and surreal. It was defiantly one of the most striking pieces in the gallery looking out of place alongside anything else in the gallery. The composition is very orthodox with its slight confusion of perspective, but its the phallic lobster’esque spires and metallic orbs that throw the whole painting.
Whilst in Museo del Prado there were several artists painting directly from the pieces in the gallery. I was walking around and in front of Velazquez’s , Christ on the cross 1632 (268x170cm) there was a crowd of people that I thought were gathering round admiring the work, when I got closer I realised they were actually just crowding round a man who was copying the painting. The irony of this scene really struck me, twenty or so people who had paid ten Euros each paying more attention to amateur copyist than the world acclaimed master piece. I think perhaps this was the most thought provoking part of the day for me!
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