The Prado returns with a historical exhibition of his masterpieces

• Reopening: Reina Sofía prepares to reopen on Saturday, taking refuge in the 'Guernica' and its permanent collection
• Museums of Madrid: The Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofía Museums: a day in the empty triangle of art

The Museo Del Prado condenses the masterpieces from its collection into a unique exhibition, the Reunion : the 250 most important works from its collections concentrated in the Central Gallery and adjacent rooms, which exude the best of the gallery, with works by Goya, El Greco, Velázquez, Rubens or Tiziano .

"We wanted to return, but in an unforgettable way," says Falomir before the selection of works that, bathed in the natural light of the room, will test the "Stendhal syndrome" of the visitors, who will return to the museum next Saturday 6 of June. The occasion is not for less: the museum has been closed for almost three months, the second longest period after the Civil War.

Upon arrival, the sculpture of Carlos V and Furor receives the visitor without his armor - it is removable - a detail that alerts the public that what is to come is a " different " way of seeing the works. It is reached after passing a security check in which a machine takes the temperature (with more than 37.5 it cannot be accessed) and an antibacterial doormat. The visitor must maintain the safety distance and the use of a mask is mandatory.

The first room is almost an exhibition in itself: it brings together Dürer's Eve and Adam , Fra Angelico's The Annunciation and Rogier Van Der Weyden's Descent . Then we advance through a long list of masterpieces such as Brueghel's The Triumph of Death , Rubens' Three Graces , Velázquez's Spears , and in adjacent rooms, works such as Las Meninas .

There are also Zurbarán, Tiziano, Caravaggio, Patinir, Clara Peeters and many more. Not all rooms are open, but since the barrier forbidden to pass, you can see some of the pictures, such as the Immaculate Conception of Tiepolo and other masterpieces.

The temporary rearrangement of the museum, which opens only a quarter of its space on Saturday and with 30% of the capacity, has allowed licenses and winks that otherwise would have been difficult. Las Hilanderas and Las Meninas meet in the same room for the first time since 1929, and the two Saturn devouring their son , de Goya or Rubens are together for the first time, also the pictures that portray the events of May 2 and 3 of 1808 in Madrid de Goya.

The Garden of Earthly Delights is missed , but "it is such a delicate work" that the museum did not want to move it, Bosco is represented with other exceptional works, such as the triptych of "The Adoration of the Magi".

"As much as you have seen the Prado you have never seen it like this and you will probably never see it like this again - summarizes Falomir- (...) There is a lot of junkies from the Prado who had withdrawal syndrome; this is pure Prado in vein." The chosen title, Reunion , is a nod not only to the reunion with the public, but also to the origins of the museum - last year it celebrated its Bicentennial . The visit then was also to the Central Gallery, although the works occupied the floor to the ceiling, as can be seen in several photographs arranged in the sample.

It has been a laborious job, 190 works have been moved . But what makes this exhibition very special is that it can be enjoyed with the pause and calm that characterized museums before they became the mass tourist destination. Without having to scrum to see the most significant works. Only 1,800 people will be able to enjoy this exhibition daily , and they will have to purchase their tickets on the museum's website (www.museodelprado.es) for a specific date and time, also for free. Lockers, locker, audio guides and brochures have been removed. An average of about 80 people will access every half hour.

This weekend it will be open house and then, until September 13, the entrance will be 50 percent. The estimated duration of the tour is an hour and a half, but the time will not be controlled or a tour will be imposed, although there is a demarcation of the visit: it is accessed through the Goya Gate and you will exit through the Murillo Gate.

The Prado Reunion with visitors will be open to the public until September 13, when the museum plans to open normally, although the visit will continue to have all the security measures.

Before the coronavirus crisis, the Prado was the most visited museum in Spain, last year it broke its historical record with 3.2 million visitors, more than 60 percent of them, foreigners. As international tourism plummets, many wonder how the coronavirus crisis will change museums.

Falomir believes that it is difficult to speculate, what is certain is that the influx of international tourists will take time to return, and until then, those who go to the museums will enjoy a more intimate, calm and peaceful experience, and perhaps, when they return to normality will try to find a system to avoid crowds.

In accordance with the criteria of The Trust Project

• art
• Prado Museum
• culture

ArtThe Prado Museum, the Thyssen and the Reina Sofía: a day in the empty triangle of art

CultureThe Prado Museum expects to open on June 6 but not with all the rooms

MusicPascal Comelade, the "calm and educated" punk

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