Like every month we return to Prado to visit one of those 12 chosen works, one per month.

We look at an impressive work by Rogier van der Weyden, or Roger de la Pasture, depending on whether you prefer the Flemish or French name. Born in Tournai, in 1399 or 1400 he is a great master of the XNUMXth century.

In this work, Van der Weyden faces a problem: fitting a large number of characters and a highly complex scene into a table of not very large dimensions previously stipulated by the person who ordered the commission, the crossbowmen's guild of Louvain, to a church. The painting measures about 2,6 meters wide by 2,2 meters high.

It was acquired by the regent of the Netherlands Mary of Hungary, sister of Charles V. His nephew, Prince Philip, bought it for him to take to Spain in 1555. Yes, Felipe II.

The life of the painting has been eventful, it suffered a shipwreck, but it resisted thanks to its packaging. He was in the Pardo chapel near Madrid. The king commissioned Coxcie to make a replica for the Pardo chapel, the original would be taken to decorate the Monastery of El Escorial.

In Civil War It was temporarily sent to Geneva, along with other major works from the Prado Museum. He returned to Spain in 1939.

An essential work on your visit to Madrid.

A hug