MADRID.- The Prado National Museum has announced the temporary acquisition of Peter Paul Rubens' "The Martyrdom of Saint Andrew," a late-period work, on loan from the Carlos de Amberes Foundation. The painting will be displayed in room 16B of the Villanueva building until 2026.


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This acquisition augments the Prado's existing collection of Rubens' works, considered the most extensive globally. "The Martyrdom of Saint Andrew" was created between 1636 and 1639, coinciding with Rubens' involvement in the Torre de la Parada project. The artwork retains its original frame, attributed to cabinetmakers Abraham Lers and Julien Beymar.

The loan coincides with architectural renovations at the Carlos de Amberes Foundation, a private, non-profit organization focused on promoting European culture and values.

Javier Solana, President of the Royal Board of Trustees of the Prado National Museum, stated, "The Prado Museum seeks to enhance its collection. This collaboration with the Carlos de Amberes Foundation provides an opportunity to further the presentation of Rubens' oeuvre."

Miguel Ángel Aguilar, President of the Carlos de Amberes Foundation, remarked, "The placement of 'The Martyrdom of Saint Andrew' at the Prado aligns with the work's historical and artistic significance."

The painting was commissioned by Jan van Vucht, an agent of the Plantiniana Printing House of Antwerp, for the main altar of the Royal Hospital of Saint Andrew of the Flemish in Madrid. The hospital was founded in 1606, with a new church constructed in 1621.

The artwork depicts a scene from the martyrdom of Saint Andrew, as recounted in Jacopo de la Voragine's "The Golden Legend." The composition draws inspiration from Otto Vennius' earlier version, with a preparatory drawing held at the Boijmans van Beunigen Museum in Rotterdam.

The inclusion of "The Martyrdom of Saint Andrew" expands the Prado Museum's presentation of 17th-century Flemish art and provides visitors with an opportunity to view a late-period work by Peter Paul Rubens.



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