Ramblin Rose: Meandering through Museums

The rest of my time in Madrid was spent soaking up artwork, both contemporary and classic at the Prado and Reina Sofia art museums while taking short breaks to consume tapas and sangria. We visited the National Museum of Prado directly after the Royal Palace. They throw the doors open at 6 p.m., waive any admissions fees and let the public roam the halls.

I understand that many people find museums boring, and hearing someone talk about a museum is even worse. For that reason I'm pretty much just going to picture the highlights of the artwork I saw at both museums, more to keep personal tabs on my art adventures than anything else. So...things I witnessed at the Prado...

Fra Angelico "The Annunciation"

Bosch "Table of the Seven Deadly Sins"

Bosch "Garden of Earthly Delights"

Patinir "Crossing the Styx"

Durer "Self Portrait"

Mor "Queen Mary Tudor"

Rubens "The Three Graces"

Rembrandt "Judith at the Banquet of Holofernes"

Goya " The Naked Maja"

Goya " The Third of May"

Goya " Saturn Devouring his Child"

Saturn Devouring His Child is part of The Black Paintings which were all present at the Prado. The Black Paintings were done by Goya later in life and are all extremely dark and gloomy. The Black Paintings were painted with oil directly onto the walls of his dining and living rooms, later to be peeled off and framed. The picture on the left depicts the Greek myth in which Saturn, in fear of his children overthrowing him, eats them all as soon as they are born. This series interests me in the same way that Edgar Allen Poe tickles my fancy.

Sorolla "Children on the Beach"

Raphael "The Cardinal"

The Prado has largely medieval, classical work whereas The Reina Sofia, was full of contemporary, surrealism with the highlights being both Picasso and Salvador Dali. Things I witnessed as the Reina Sofia...