Prado Highlights: 10 Must-See Masterpieces

Bosch's surreal triptych unfolds across three panels—paradise, earthly pleasures, and hell—in a riot of fantastical creatures and symbolic chaos. Painted around 1500, it captures humanity's journey from innocence through temptation to divine judgment. The central panel teems with naked figures, oversized fruits, and bizarre hybrid beasts that defy easy interpretation. Scholars still debate whether it's a moral warning or a celebration of desire. A cornerstone of the Prado, it rewards hours of close looking and invites endless interpretation.

A Flemish masterpiece of grief and compositional harmony—Christ's lifeless body is lowered with infinite tenderness as mourners cradle him in flowing curves. Painted around 1435, van der Weyden captures raw emotion through tears, contorted hands, and Mary's collapse that mirrors her son's form. The shallow, stage-like space and brilliant colors draw you into the scene's emotional intensity. Every figure expresses sorrow differently, yet the composition feels perfectly balanced. It's one of the most moving depictions of Christ's death in Western art.

Soft golden light floods this sacred moment as the Archangel Gabriel kneels before Mary with news of the Incarnation. Painted around 1426, Fra Angelico—a Dominican friar—infuses every detail with spiritual clarity and devotion. The delicate colors, graceful figures, and architectural setting create an atmosphere of divine calm and humility. Mary's gentle acceptance contrasts with the angel's rainbow wings and reverent posture. This painting bridges Gothic refinement and Renaissance perspective, reflecting Fra Angelico's belief that art should inspire prayer and contemplation.

Goya's daring nude reclines with unflinching confidence, her direct gaze challenging every viewer who meets her eyes. Painted around 1800, she's both sensual and confrontational—one of the first Spanish paintings to depict a fully nude woman without mythological excuse. Her identity remains mysterious, fueling centuries of speculation. The painting defied Catholic Spain's conservative morality and even got Goya summoned before the Inquisition. She's a symbol of Spanish modernity and artistic freedom, unapologetic in her presence and eternally provocative.

A joyful celebration of beauty and movement—three voluptuous goddesses embrace in a dance that embodies harmony, friendship, and sensual pleasure. Painted late in Rubens' life around 1635, the Graces are rendered in his signature glowing colors and sumptuous flesh tones. Their intertwined poses create a circular rhythm that draws the eye around the composition. The transparent veil and soft landscape suggest classical mythology brought to Baroque life. This painting epitomizes Rubens' belief that beauty should be abundant, warm, and full of vitality.

A mysterious masterpiece that blurs the line between art and reality—Velázquez paints himself in the act of painting, capturing a moment in the royal court that questions perspective, power, and perception. Created in 1656, the scene shows the Infanta Margarita surrounded by her maids of honor, while the king and queen appear only as reflections in a distant mirror. Who is the true subject? The viewer becomes implicated in the scene, perhaps standing where the royal couple stood. It's a meditation on seeing and being seen, influencing artists from Picasso to Foucault.

The elongated figure, haunting expression, and spiritual intensity define El Greco's singular vision—this portrait radiates inner devotion and aristocratic dignity. Painted around 1580, the nobleman's gesture over his heart suggests an oath or declaration of faith. El Greco's signature style stretches the body toward heaven while the penetrating gaze holds you in place. The austere black clothing and minimal background focus all attention on the face and hand. It's both a portrait of Spanish nobility and a window into the soul's relationship with the divine.

A meditation on simplicity and the sacred in everyday objects—four humble earthenware vessels emerge from deep shadow, bathed in divine light. Painted around 1650, Zurbarán transforms a mundane still life into silent prayer. Each object is rendered with such precise attention that you can sense the weight of the metal, the texture of the clay. The stark composition and dramatic lighting suggest these are not mere kitchen items but symbols of spiritual devotion. Zurbarán's monastic sensibility turns the ordinary into the transcendent.

Caravaggio's stark realism and revolutionary use of light capture a complex moment—the young shepherd David holds the severed head of Goliath, his expression mixing triumph with somber reflection. Painted around 1600, the dramatic chiaroscuro pulls both figures from deep shadow into harsh illumination. David appears almost melancholy, as if contemplating the cost of violence even in righteous victory. Some scholars believe Caravaggio painted his own face as Goliath—a haunting self-portrait of defeat. It's biblical drama rendered with unflinching psychological honesty and brutal beauty.

A luminous celebration of wine, music, and uninhibited pleasure—Titian's mythological feast unfolds across a sun-drenched landscape where the inhabitants of Andros revel in Bacchus's gift. Painted around 1524, the composition swirls with dancing figures, scattered musical instruments, and flowing wine that transforms into a river. Rich Venetian colors—deep reds, golden flesh tones, azure skies—create an atmosphere of sensual abandon. Titian fuses ancient mythology with Renaissance humanism, influencing generations of painters who sought to capture earthly joy. It's a masterpiece of color, movement, and the art of living fully.