The Royal Museum of Paintings and Sculptures renamed the National Museum of Paintings and Sculptures in 1868 and subsequently, the Prado Museum opened its doors in Madrid on 19 November 1819. The first exhibition of this famous art gallery featured 311 paintings from the Royal collection, exclusively by Spanish authors. In 2019, the Prado Museum celebrates its 200^th anniversary. The main idea of the events that will be held throughout the year is to reflect the history of the institution and tell about how the private collection has become the central cultural heritage of Spain.

The list of best exhibitions to visit to celebrate the Prado Museum’s anniversary is rather extensive. Here are the most captivating shows any interested art lover can see in 2019.

Photo credit: The Prado Museum/museodelprado.es

“Giacometti in the Prado”

Over the past 200 years, the halls of the Prado Museum visited many outstanding figures of the world history of art. This time, the institution invites you to attend one of the best exhibitions of 2019, dedicated to the artist who has not yet been presented within its walls. Nineteen artworks – 17 sculptures and two paintings – by Alberto Giacometti enter into a dialogue with famous masterpieces from the Prado Museum’s collection.

Exhibition dates: 4.2.2018 – 6.7.2019

Photo credit: The Prado Museum/museodelprado.es

“Parallels: Velázquez, Rembrandt, Vermeer, and the Spanish and Dutch Golden Age”

This exhibition commemorating the Prado Museum’s anniversary is the result of the active cooperation of the Spanish fine art museum and the Amsterdam Rijksmuseum, which provided famous artworks from its collection. The main idea is to show the artistic traditions of the two countries, to contrast historical myths and artistic realities and to find numerous sources that unite the picturesque schools of the two countries. Among the claimed exhibits are art pieces by such renowned masters as Velázquez, Rembrandt, José de Ribera, Frans Hals, and Johannes Vermeer.

Exhibition dates: 6.25.2018 – 9.29.2019

Photo credit: The Prado Museum/museodelprado.es

“Fra Angelico and the Rise of the Florentine Renaissance”

It is another fascinating exhibition that celebrates the Prado Museum’s anniversary. The central theme of this exposition is the first 30 years of the fifteenth century of the early Renaissance of Florence and the figure of Fra Angelico – one of the most important representatives of this era, a pioneer in the achievements of Florentine painting. On a par with his masterpieces, the artworks of such famous Italian painters as Masaccio, Paolo Uccello, and Filippo Lippi, and the eminent sculptors Lorenzo Ghiberti, Donatello, and Nanni di Banco are presented as well. A real feast for the admirers of the Renaissance!

Exhibition dates: 5.28.2018 – 9.22.2019

Photo credit: The Prado Museum/museodelprado.es

“A Tale of Two Women Painters: Sofonisba Anguissola and Lavinia Fontana”

The last but not the least exhibition honoring the Prado Museum’s anniversary will tell about some of the most famous and revered women of Western European art. For the first time, the institution will gather under one roof the 60 major artworks of the two Renaissance artists, which will allow visitors to plunge into the atmosphere of that time. Any interested fine art connoisseurs will also learn about the fate and work of two remarkable female artists who broke the stereotypes of their era. A great opportunity for a more in-depth study of the theme “The role of women in the Renaissance.”

Exhibition dates: 10.22.2019 – 2.2.2020