De El Bosco a Tiziano: A Renaissance Art Exhibition at the Royal Palace of Madrid

This exhibition, held at the Royal Palace of Madrid, commemorates the 450th anniversary of the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. It highlights the artistic treasures within the monastery, focusing on Renaissance masters like El Bosco and Tiziano, and their significant role in making El Escorial a paramount artistic center of its time.

Coinciding with the 450th anniversary of the placement of the first stone of the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, this exhibition delves into the artistic ornamentation of the building and the crucial role played by artists such as El Bosco, Tiziano, Patinir, Navarrete 'el Mudo', Alonso Sánchez Coello, Antonio Moro, Gerard David, and Bernard Van Orley. These artists and the artworks they contributed transformed the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial into a preeminent ensemble of art and wonder in Renaissance Spain, rivaling even the Vatican of the 16th century. The exhibition's foundation is built upon extensive research of the 'Libros de entregas', meticulously documenting Felipe II's acquisitions during the Monastery's construction. A significant section is dedicated to Tiziano, reflecting the Monastery's status as holding the largest collection of his works in Europe at the time of his death. This area showcases masterpieces from his late period, including a notable display of three major works destined for the Church of El Escorial—'The Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence', 'The Adoration of the Kings', and 'The Burial of Christ'—many of which had not been exhibited together since the early 19th century. The exhibition also features 'The Entry of the Animals into Noah's Ark', a monumental tapestry cartoon by Michel de Coxcie restored by Patrimonio Nacional, presented alongside works by El Bosco and Patinir. The majority of the exhibited pieces are from Patrimonio Nacional's collections, supplemented by loans from prestigious institutions such as the Museo Nacional del Prado, the National Gallery in London, the National Gallery of Ireland, the Louvre Museum, and the National Library of Spain.

The exhibition is organized by Fundación Banco Santander and held in the temporary exhibition halls of the Palacio Real de Madrid. Specific ticketing details are not provided on this page, but visitors are directed to a dedicated microsite for the exhibition 'El Escorial'. Given the location within the Royal Palace, entry may be linked to general palace admission or require separate booking information found via the microsite or external ticketing platforms.