Voces del Prado

Going into Las Meninas

Carmen Garrido Pérez, Head of the Technical Office, 1982-2012

When I come to the Prado Museum, even if it's just a quick glance from a distance, I like to go into the room dedicated to Velázquez. Since I was a small girl I really liked Prince Baltasar Carlos on Horseback, and maybe then I didn't pay much attention to Las Meninas.
If there's nobody in the room than surely I can get a good look. The problem is seeing it when there are so many people.
I love looking at it from the door, in the days when the Museum used to close on Mondays, and walk towards the painting from the door. I've done it many times, even with people in the room. I had it in my hands. When it was restored it was taken off the frame and we laid it on the floor. I love to arrive at this room and walk in from the door, I did it after we restored it and I still do it: I walk towards the painting, and when I get up to it I feel as though I'm walking inside it. I recommend this to anyone and they can see how real it is.