6 Secrets You Probably Didn't Know About the Prado

The masterpieces of the Prado may be known worldwide, but the stories the museum has collected over the years are not as famous.

With its centuries of history, the Prado Museum is filled with anecdotes and legends hidden from the ears of the ordinary visitor. At Feel the City Tours, we share the museum's best-kept secrets and invite you to discover them all in our guided tours of the Prado Museum.

1. The building was not intended to house an art gallery

One of the anecdotes most visitors are unaware of is that the Prado Museum building was not originally intended to house an art gallery. Initially, the building was conceived by José Moñino y Redondo, the first minister of King Charles III, to be the Royal Office of Natural History. With this purpose, Charles III aimed to create a new series of scientific institutions to rejuvenate the Paseo del Prado.

The building's construction took place during the reigns of Charles III and Charles IV, being completed in the early 19th century. However, it was Ferdinand VII who, at the insistence of his wife Isabel de Braganza, repurposed the site, abandoned after the Spanish War of Independence, to be inaugurated in 1819 as the Royal Museum of Painting, initially showcasing only 311 works.

2. Pablo Picasso was one of its directors

Did you know? Although not often mentioned, the Spanish painter Pablo Picasso was one of the directors of the Prado Museum. This occurred under extraordinary circumstances: shortly after the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, the president of the Republic, Manuel Azaña, signed a decree appointing Pablo Ruiz Picasso as the museum's director.

The truth is that, due to exceptional circumstances, Picasso never fulfilled his duties as director, nor did he formally assume the role. Nonetheless, he was officially listed as the director until 1939. As a result, Picasso often joked about the matter, claiming it was unclear whether he ever held the position since he was never formally dismissed either.

3. The other Mona Lisa

In 2012, one of the most talked-about discoveries in recent art history was made public: the Prado Museum's storage facilities revealed they held a replica of the Mona Lisa, the famous painting by Leonardo Da Vinci housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris.

This hand-painted replica was completed by one of Leonardo's disciples, probably Andrea Salai or Francesco Melzi. What makes the painting unique is that, according to researchers, it is a parallel portrait painted by one of Da Vinci's disciples alongside the master himself. This work had never come to light before because it was popularly thought to be just a copy painted by some Flemish artist.

4. It is home to La Peregrina Pearl, once owned by Elizabeth Taylor

The pearl known as La Peregrina is an impressive jewel that once belonged to the Spanish Crown. In 1969, Richard Burton purchased it at an auction for $37,000 as a gift for his wife, Elizabeth Taylor.

Liz Taylor's Peregrina pearl is one of the most painted jewels in history, having been worn by several generations of Spanish monarchs. At the Prado Museum, we can see La Peregrina in the portrait of Queen Mary Tudor by Antonio Moro, as well as in the equestrian portraits of Philip III and Isabel of Bourbon painted by Velázquez.

5. It was empty during the Spanish Civil War

The only time the Prado Museum has been without artworks was during the Spanish Civil War. When the Condor Legion bombed Madrid, it was decided that all the artworks would be moved to a safe location as they were at risk of being destroyed during the conflict.

Thus, all the Prado's artworks were moved to the eastern coast of Spain and from there to the League of Nations in Geneva. They remained under Geneva's custody until the end of the war. This nerve-wracking transfer was carried out in record time and ensured the collection's integrity.

6. The comedian Tony Leblanc was born there

Finally, one of the most curious anecdotes surrounding the Prado Museum is the birth of the comedic actor Ignacio Fernández Sánchez, better known as Tony Leblanc. According to his biography and numerous interviews, he was born there because his father was the museum's caretaker. In fact, Tony Leblanc himself worked at the Prado for a time as a bellboy and elevator operator.

However, actress and singer Nati Mistral, who dated him for a time, claimed this incident was fabricated. According to her, Tony Leblanc was born far from the Prado Museum, in his family home on Torrecilla de Leal Street in Madrid.