The Prado has opened the first exhibition devoted entirely to Ricardo de Madrazo. It brings 29 sketchbooks and rarely seen works into public view, with material supplied by his descendants.
Room 60 of the Prado’s Villanueva Building opened to a new exhibition on 13 October 2026. ‘Ricardo de Madrazo (1852-1917): dibujos y acuarelas’ is the first show devoted entirely to the artist, whose work has long sat in the shadow of his brother Raimundo and brother-in-law Mariano Fortuny. It is part of Almacén abierto, a programme that has presented lesser-known works and artists from the museum’s collections since 2009.
At the centre are 29 sketchbooks, acquired by the Prado between 2006 and 2026. They date from 1867 to 1917, covering almost five decades of Madrazo’s career. The display also includes 37 works. Among them are drawings and watercolours, as well as a self-portrait. Personal documents are on view too. Almost all the material has never been shown publicly; only two works had been exhibited before.
The Prado holds seven paintings by Madrazo, along with more than 50 drawings and watercolours. Before this exhibition, only his self-portrait had been on permanent display.
Madrazo’s descendants made the notebooks and other materials available. They include preparatory studies and copies after old masters. Other pages show landscapes and city views, while further studies focus on figures or family scenes. Madrazo made work in Madrid and Rome, and also in Granada and Venice. His travels took him to Tangier and Lekeitio as well. The exhibition shows how he worked in pencil and pen, using ink and watercolour, and draws on subjects from travel and everyday life.
Born in Madrid in 1852, Madrazo was the youngest son of painter Federico de Madrazo and the grandson of José de Madrazo, founder of the prominent artistic dynasty. Curator Pedro José Martínez Plaza says Ricardo remained overshadowed by better-known members of his family. The exhibition runs until 17 January 2027.
Spain’s arts coverage has also included a national photography prize. At the Prado, the focus is Madrazo’s work and the notebooks supplied by his descendants.
