Το μουσείο Πράντο της Μαδρίτης "μεγάλωσε"

One of the world's finest art collections has finally got the kind of clean, modern space that old masters such as Goya, Velazquez and El Greco deserve.

Madrid's El Prado museum opens a new extension this week which adds 50 percent more space and more natural light, after a decade of ambitious building work that included a much-needed renovation of the existing galleries.

"Two centuries ago when it was founded, this was one of the first modern museums," said Miguel Zugaza, the museum's director. "We are now recovering that role."

To celebrate its new lease of life, the museum is using its new wing to exhibit 100 19th century Spanish works, from Francisco de Goya through to Joaquin Sorolla, including works by Mariano Fortuny and Federico de Madrazo.

Many of the works are well known, but have not been seen for at least 10 years because there was no room to show them.

Now, the bright new galleries are home to a set of Goya drawings - stunning examples of the surreal and satirical vision for which the painter is considered the forerunner of the modernist movement, and the Prado's newest acquisition.

"Winged Bull" heads the collection, showing a leaping bull suspended by a cloud of butterflies with human faces, one of Goya's last works.

The new wing was dug out beneath a 16th century cloister, now the top floor of the building housing sculpture by Leone and Pompeo Leone that was commissioned by Carlos V and Felipe II.

Architect Rafael Moneo has seamlessly melded the cloister, originally part of the neighboring Los Jeronimos chuch, with a trendier look in the rest of the two-storey building to bring the Prado firmly into the 21st century.

An interior patio runs through the entire building from the cloister to fill it with light but can also be closed off to protect the paintings.

Moneo's new building of wood, marble and copper includes an auditorium and cafe as well as new storage space which has freed up large parts of the older building.

It is a far cry from the old Prado, often too dark, with works poorly displayed, limited services and little explanation for the foreign visitor.

Zugaza explained that, as at many of the world's museums, even the Prado's staff have never seen its entire collection of about 8,000 works of art. "There was a chronic lack of space."

Many paintings in the 19th century exhibition weigh nearly half a ton, measure 3 to 4 meters by 8 to 10 meters - the size of a sitting room - and need about 10 people to move them.

The old museum simply did not have the space to display the works to full dramatic effect, while the new extension allows about 400 more paintings to be seen.

"We have a Flemish collection which deserves more attention, that is a possibility that is only now opening up," Zugaza said.

(πηγή: www.iht.com, 29/10/2007)