Museo Del Prado History
The Museo del Prado is recognized as the largest museum in the world, with a collection that includes some 7,600 paintings, 1,000 sculptures, 2,400 prints and 6,300 drawings. The museum also holds a large number of archival and historic documents.
History
The Museo del Prado was designed by architect Juan de Villanueva in 1785 by order of Charles III. The original construct was to house the Natural History Cabinet.
Identification
Under Ferdinand VII, Charles' grandson, the building was known as the Royal Museum of Paintings and Sculptures. When it was opened to the public in 1819, it was officially named the Museo Nacional del Prado.
Significance
The Museo del Prado was established with the dual purpose of exhibiting works of art belonging to the Spanish Crown and demonstrating to the rest of Europe that Spanish art was of equally superior quality.
Features
The first museum catalogue was published in 1819 and included 311 Spanish paintings. At the time, the museum housed 1,510 paintings from various royal residences.
Considerations
The royal collection at the core of the Museo del Prado grew significantly in the 16th century under Charles V and continued to expand with the succeeding Habsburg and Bourbon sovereigns.
