Museo del Prado opens in Madrid

Background. The Museo del Prado is the main Spanish national art museum, located in central Madrid. It houses collections of European art dating from the 12th century to the early 20th century, based on the former Spanish royal collection. Founded as a museum of paintings and sculpture in 1819, it also contains important collections of other types of works.

Opening. The building's final function was decided by Ferdinand VII, encouraged by his wife, Queen María Isabel de Braganza, to use it as a new Royal Museum of Paintings and Sculptures. The royal museum, which would soon become known as the National Museum of Painting and Sculpture, opened to the public for the first time in November 1819.

Initial Catalogue. The first catalogue of the museum, published in 1819, was solely devoted to Spanish painting and included 311 paintings. At that time, the museum housed 1,510 works from the various royal residences, the Reales Sitios, including works from other schools.