Voces del Prado

Plácido Arango, Rodrigo Uría and Miguel Satrústegui

Javier Solana Madariaga, Trustee of the Museo del Prado, 2019-What's on

During my time as Minister of Culture, which was quite long (I was probably in the post longer than anyone else), the Prado became more than just an obligation; it was a veritable devotion, if you permit the expression. We had to deal with the affair of The Marchioness, the cleaning of Las Meninas, the Thyssen Collection … It was like a juggling game with three balls in which you have wait and see which you would able to catch. And we managed to land them all! Everything came together. It seems incredible that we were able to put everything in its place at the same time.

One of the people who played the most prominent role in the Prado’s relations with the Metropolitan was Plácido Arango. Plácido Arango is a person who has an extraordinary passion and generosity with regard to painting and the Prado. He was a Trustee of the Metropolitan Museum and he knew the museum’s ins-and-outs perfectly, so he was able to put us in contact with everyone there. He was the one who brought Bridley over. In fact, he was the one who paid Bridley! Plácido has done everything for the Prado … and more!

Rodrigo Uría was the head of the law firm that bears his name and he was a very good friend of mine. It was to him that I turned for help as a lawyer in all matters relating to both The Marchioness of Santa Cruz and the Thyssen Collection. He always showed a considerable interest in these matters. And he said that he would devote all his time possible to them. He helped us a great deal as a practising lawyer. I had an Under-Secretary at the time who was my right-hand man, Miguel Satrústegui, who was another great lawyer. And together with Uria, they were the ones who carried out all of the steps and procedures necessary in England. And we won.