Madrid: Museo Nacional del Prado, 2013. 19cm., pbk., 480pp. prof. illus., most in color. Spanish text. Summary: This exhibition brings together 281 works from the collections of the Museo del Prado, all characterised by their small format, technical mastery, exquisite brushstroke, sophisticated colour and the presence of hidden details that encourage close-up observation of these cabinet paintings, preparatory sketches, small portraits, sculptures and reliefs. Half of the works have not been on regular display at the Prado in recent years; kept in storage or on long-term loan to other institutions, they have to some extent been obscured by the more famous and popular works in the collection that always attract most attention. Nonetheless, they are of equal merit, interest and beauty. The uniqueness of the Prado lies in the extremely high quality of its collections, the excellent state of conservation of its works and the variety of its holdings, assembled over the centuries by successive Spanish monarchs and through the gifts and acquisitions made from the 19th century onwards. The works in the exhibition are displayed in seventeen galleries with a primarily chronological ordering, giving rise to a fascinating survey that begins in late 14th century in Italy, France and the Low Countries and concludes in 19th-century Spain. This concentrated focus provokes an awareness of the passing of time, which unites past and present, and also reveals the uniqueness and richness of the Museo del Prado today. In addition, the relationships between different artistic media and geographical origins bring to light technical and stylistic similarities and differences in works by major artists. The dialogues established between these works have much to say about the importance of outside influences or, conversely, of local tradition. In some cases the subject-matter takes priority over the artists and their styles, encouraging the viewer to consider the different ways in which northern and southern European artists depicted the same theme. The result is a comprehensive vision of European art and its significance, ranging from the Middle Ages to late 19th-century naturalism and encompassing the Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo.
