The Prado: A part of my life

Javier Solana Madariaga, Trustee of the Museo del Prado, 2019-Actualidad

My name is Javier Solana and I’m a Member of the Board of Trustees at the Museo del Prado. The Prado has been a part of my life. I have been a Trustee for many years, and I was also Minister for Culture for a number of years, so the Museum is in my heart. I have some very mixed recollections. My parents took me to the Prado with my brothers and sisters. I must’ve been around eight or nine years old. And I thought everything was very dark. I don’t know whether I’d go so far as to say that I found it frightening, but let’s just say I didn’t enjoy it very much. Later on, when I was older, I enjoyed it very much.
I recall a small anecdote, which I still find very moving. During the last executions carried out by the Franco Government, which took place in El Hoyo del Manzanares, there was a night when we didn’t know whether there would be further executions the following day or whether Franco would issue a pardon. A group of friends and I decided to visit the Prado. We went to see Goya’s The 3rd of May 1808 in Madrid, or The Executions. Let’s say it was a symbolic gesture, a layman’s way of appealing for Goya’s support – wherever he might be – so that the executions would not take place. Unfortunately, they did take place, but we experienced a highly moving moment. We must have been around twenty people. We gathered affectionately in the hall where The Executions hangs in order to invoke a sense of forgiveness, whilst recalling everything that the executions represented in Goya’s day.