Rainer Maria Rilke and Spanish Art at the Prado Museum

In 1908, at the Salon d'Automne in Paris, Rilke stood before El Greco's «View of Toledo» and found it a revelation. Four years later he travelled to Spain and stayed for long spells in Toledo and Ronda. 📜🎨

On the centenary of his death, the Prado tells what Spanish art meant to the poet of the «Duino Elegies».

🎨 RAINER MARIA RILKE AND SPANISH ART

📅 17 November 2026 to 7 March 2027

🕐 Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 8 pm · Sundays and public holidays, 10 am to 7 pm

📍 Prado Museum, Room C, Jerónimos building · Paseo del Prado, s/n

🎟️ General admission €15 · Includes the collection and temporary exhibitions

🖼️ The exhibition

From very early writings, such as the sonnet «Velázquez» and the psychodrama «Murillo», to his late work, Spanish art runs through Rilke's writing. He admired Zuloaga in Paris, shared in the turn-of-the-century passion for El Greco, read Goya's paintings and prints closely and followed Picasso.

The show pairs those paintings with his texts and his 1912-1913 journey. Curated by Javier Arnaldo and Javier Barón.

🏛️ Planning your visit

Tickets come with a time slot, chosen when you buy them. In the last two hours before closing the collection is free and temporary exhibitions are half price. Under-18s and students aged 18 to 25 go free.

ℹ️ Good to know: Closed on 25 December and 1 January. Open 10 am to 2 pm on 24 and 31 December and 6 January.

✨ Toledo, El Greco and Goya, seen through a poet's eyes.