Where to begin? I haven't a clue. The Prado is overwhelming and I spent the day there. Too many painterly delights and too much information to process. The Tintoretto exhibition is beyond belief - the best and worst of it is linked to his innnovations. The early work is that of a young painter trying to get to grips with ideas. Then in his 30s he begins to unfold. In his 40s he is unleashed and the paintings get great. These works are the beginnings of the warped space and strange time sequencing that puncutates his best work. There are many studio knock outs for low paying patrons or work that he farmed out to his trainees. These wound up in collections much like many works do - they were bought because of the name - and here they are, but when the work is on - wow!
The rest of the Prado is a delight. Velazquez, Goya, El Greco, Rubens and a cast of hundreds stroking away at the Baroque spaces of the 17th & 18th century cultural elite. I won't bother you with the usual suspects, but I was amazed at how many great Titian paintings there are here - a special favorite of the hunter king it seems. My favorite portrait involved a big dog, a big beard, a ridiculous cod piece and a rifle - could you get more manly? Around the corner was another naked bottle blonde with a shower of gold cascading between her legs - her old crone maid vainly trying to catch the shower in a ratty apron - 16th Century contraception. Brilliant!
More to come...