New sculpture room in the #MuseodelPrado: the Galería Jónica

The Museo Nacional del Prado has architecturally rehabilitated the space of the Ionic gallery, which was closed to the public for more than thirty years, this one of the most noble spaces of the Museum serves to expand the visibility of its collections of sculpture and decorative arts in a permanent way, there you can enjoy wonderful sculptures and decorative arts.

It is a journey of 56 works from Ancient Egypt, through the Roman world and the Renaissance to conclude at the end of the Baroque, 90% of the sculptures on display here have never been exhibited before, they are pieces that are shown in an eloquent recreation in the manner of those that formed part of the galleries of great collectors and which cover a wide chronological arc. Portraiture is one of the main themes.

Rome is represented by several busts of Greek philosophers and writers such as Homer, Xenophon and Sophocles, as well as portraits of great figures from its history, such as the Empress Julia Domna.

There are some Renaissance sculptures such as the portraits of Julius Caesar or Cicero, or idealized compositions such as that of Hermes-Antinous, to conclude with the intense face of a Medusa from the end of the 18th century.

This new exhibition of a selection from the sculpture and decorative arts collections offers visitors a more panoramic, complete and suggestive approach to the creation of these artistic disciplines from Ancient Egypt to the Baroque.

The refurbishment of the north Ionian gallery has been supported by the American Friends of the Prado Museum, thanks to the sponsorship of The Engh Foundation.

SIT Spain is honored to be able to participate in projects such as this one, which brings back to light such emblematic works of such historical importance.