Museo del Prado turns 200 today – here’s four things you didn’t know about the Madrid museum – The Sun

THE world-class art museum turns 200 today.

Here's four fascinating facts you didn't know about the Madrid landmark.

1. It hasn't always been an art museum

When Museo del Prado first opened it was actually used as a museum of natural sciences.

The building, first designed in 1785 by architect Juan de Villanueva was never intended to be the iconic museum of art it became.

The building didn't even become a public gallery until it was renovated by King Ferdinand VII and Queen Maria Isabel de Braganza in 1819.

2. Some of the museum's impressive art collection has been amassed via donations

Museo del Prado say more than 2,300 of their works housed in various collections throughout the museum have been gifted or donated to them.

The museum's huge art collection is so large that only one seventh of the total cultural artefacts are on display to the public.

3. Its origins are steeped in history

The museum was one of the buildings constructed during the reign of Carlos III.

It was part of the building scheme designed to turn Madrid into a grandiose urban space.

Carlos III actually commissioned the building for the "reurbanización" of the Paseo del Prado.

However, work on the building stopped after Carlos III's death and only recommenced during the reign of his grandson.

During the Peninsular War, as the building stood unfinished it was used as a headquarters for the cavalry and a gunpowder-store for the Napoleonic troops.

4. You can view some of the museum's most important paintings on Google Earth

In 2009, the museum selected 14 of its most influential and iconic works to be displayed on Google Earth.

The works could also be viewed on Google Maps.

They can be viewed in extremely high-resolution, with the largest displayed at 14,000 megapixels.

You can even zoom in and see different paint textures and fine detail.

The works you can view are:

    1. The Crucifixion, Juan de Flandes
    2. Gentleman with his Hand on his Breast, El Greco
    3. The Family of Philip IV or Las Meninas, Velázquez
    4. Jacob’s Dream, Ribera
    5. The 3rd of May, Goya
    6. The Annunciation, Fra Angelico
    7. The Cardinal, Raphael
    8. The Emperor Charles V at Mühlberg, Titian
    9. The Immaculate Conception, Tiepolo
    10. The Descent from the Cross, Rogier van der Weyden
    11. The Garden of Earthly Delights, Hieronymous Bosch
    12. The Three Graces, Rubens
    13. Self-portrait, Dürer
    14. Artemisia, Rembrandt

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