Voces del Prado

Colourful Goya

José Torreblanca Prieto, Grandson of José Prieto, Lead Concierge, 1936-1948

I remember snowy days, looking up at the entrance. It had large, light-filled windows and was really lovely. Inside there were enormous paintings of saints, most of them very dark and a bit gloomy. Paintings of this type doesn’t interest a child. I sometimes blame having lived in the Prado for my not being very interested in painting. I’m a keen reader and I love music. Reading and music move me. But painting moves me less. Because what I remember about the Museum was gloominess. Until I reached Goya at the end of the long gallery where I saw a few things that struck me, more like a kid’s comic. For example, the Executions or The Family of Charles IV. Their colour attracted your attention and they made a bit more impression on you. Velázquez was on the left with Las Meninas and everyone was looking at Las Meninas but I used to say “what do people see in it?”.