The Spanish royal family has revealed an announcement about King Felipe that has surely managed to move more than one person. The monarch has taken on the role of museum guide for a very special reason.
Last Tuesday, June 3, the Prado Museum reached an important milestone in its digital activity with the publication of its 1,000th live broadcast on Instagram. This initiative began in November 2019 as part of the museum's bicentennial commemoration, and its first protagonist was the institution's director, Miguel Falomir.
Since then, the art gallery has kept close and participatory communication with its audience through this social media platform. Now, to commemorate this highly symbolic number, the museum has featured a "very special and exceptional guest": King Felipe VI.
The Spanish monarch served as a guide for a day through a video in which he presented the iconic work Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez. "Good morning to all the workers at the Prado Museum and especially to the 1.2 million followers on Instagram," the king said at the beginning of his participation.
King Felipe earns the applause of a large part of Spaniards after accepting the Prado Museum's proposal
With this unprecedented gesture, Felipe VI has joined this tribute that recognizes the Prado Museum's commitment to innovation and cultural outreach. "I've been invited to celebrate this and I'm delighted to join all those who've come here to talk about this painting," the Spanish monarch stated next.
Although he couldn't "be in room 12 of the museum" for his presentation, the monarch recorded his intervention at "the Zarzuela Palace." From there, he wanted "to share one of the most emblematic works of the collection: Las Meninas by Velázquez, one of our most universal painters."
King Felipe's intervention highlights the royal family's strong commitment to Spanish culture and art. In addition, he supports the Prado Museum's work in its effort to bring art closer to as many people as possible. For this, the use of digital platforms has been key.
During his explanation, the monarch reflected on the historical significance of Las Meninas and its relationship with the court of Felipe IV. He described the work as part of one of the "brightest periods, the Golden Age":
"This is a painting that's perfectly recognizable all over the world. Painted in 1656, it portrays the royal family and their court in a hall of the Royal Alcázar of Madrid, where the Royal Palace now stands."
The work shows Infanta Margarita Teresa surrounded by her ladies-in-waiting and other figures. However, for King Felipe VI, it's a particularly "complex" painting, since it features "paintings within the painting, mirrors, and many figures."
"We see Velázquez himself, who immortalized himself on the canvas while painting it. As a curiosity, that cross of the Order of Santiago wasn't originally in the painting. It's believed it was added later, perhaps by Velázquez himself after being named a knight."
After listening to the extensive and careful explanation by Felipe VI, we have no doubt that, for the monarch, this painting is "much more than a painting":
"Velázquez draws us fully into the scene and invites us to decipher what's happening at that precise moment. He doesn't give us answers, but he leaves us with questions, and in that freedom of interpretation lies one of the greatnesses of his work."