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57 works across 1 institution
Madrid's Museo del Prado holds 57 works by Diego Velázquez (1599–1660) — the city's entire known holding of this artist in a single institution.
Diego Velázquez in Madrid
Velázquez in Madrid
Almost all of Velázquez's major work is in Madrid, where he spent his career as court painter to Philip IV. The Prado holds Las Meninas — arguably the most discussed painting in art history, a canvas in which the painter appears to be painting a portrait of the king and queen, who are reflected in a mirror at the back of the room, while the Infanta Margaret and her attendants watch. The spatial logic is deliberately ambiguous: are we looking at the scene from the position of the royal sitters? The painting has accumulated more interpretive literature than any other work in Western art.
The Surrender of Breda, the Rokeby Venus, the equestrian portraits of the royal family, and more than fifty other works are here. Velázquez painted almost exclusively for the Spanish court and rarely sold or exported; the consequence is that Madrid has a completeness of coverage that no other city approaches for any other great painter.
Planning your visit
Las Meninas is in Room 12 on the ground floor — it has its own large space and is the most visited room in the Prado. Go when the museum opens or on a weekday afternoon. The equestrian portraits are in the adjacent rooms and are substantially less crowded.
Museo del Prado
Madrid · 57 works on display
The Prado is one of the world's great art museums, with an unparalleled collection of Spanish painting — Velázquez, Goya, El Greco — alongside outstanding Italian and Flemish Old Masters. Allow a full day; the Velázquez rooms alone take two hours to do justice to.
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About the artist
Diego Velázquez
Spanish · Baroque / Spanish Golden Age · 1599–1660
Velázquez was the greatest Spanish painter of the 17th century and spent most of his career as court painter to Philip IV in Madrid. Las Meninas, his masterpiece, remains at the Prado alongside the bulk of his surviving work. His technique — loose and fluid up close, miraculously convincing at distance — was a direct inspiration for Manet, Sargent, and Bacon.
Key works
Las MeninasThe Surrender of BredaPortrait of Innocent X
Frequently asked questions
How many Diego Velázquez paintings are on display in Madrid?
Our current data shows 57 Diego Velázquez paintings on display in Madrid, spread across the Museo del Prado. Coverage is based on Wikidata records and may not reflect every work currently on display.
Which museum in Madrid has the most Diego Velázquez paintings?
Museo del Prado holds all 57 known Diego Velázquez works in Madrid.
Where else can I see Diego Velázquez's paintings?
Diego Velázquez's paintings are distributed across museums in multiple countries. Our artist page lists every city in our collection where their work is currently on display — use it to plan a multi-city trip or find works closer to home. Browse all cities for Diego Velázquez →
Planning your visit to Madrid
The Prado, Reina Sofía, and Thyssen-Bornemisza are all within 10 minutes' walk of each other along the Paseo del Prado. The Prado offers free entry from 6–8pm Monday to Saturday and 5–7pm on Sundays. A Paseo del Arte combined ticket gives discounted access to all three.
Artwork data sourced from Wikidata. Coverage varies — always confirm with the museum before visiting.