We have devoted our cover to an exhibition being presented at the Prado Museum, an anthology devoted to Jean Siméon Chardin (1699-1779), one of the top expo- nents of 18th century French pain- ting, only three of whose paintings are held in a Spanish Collection (Thyssen Museum).
This exhibition, which was officially opened by HRH the Prince of Astu- rias, was organised through a part- nership between Ferrara Arte and the Prado Museum and is curated by Pierre Rosenberg, a member of the Académie Française and Hono- rary Director of the Louvre.
After making a stop at the Palazzo dei Diamante in Ferrara, the exhibition came to Madrid thanks to the patronage of the AXA Foundation which, as with the Turner show, is once again making it possible for a major exhibition devoted to a painter who has never before been showcased alone in Spain to be held. The exhibition is made up of 57 works by the great master of the still life and genre painting, including several new items that were not shown at the Ita- lian venue.The relatively scarce output – slightly over 200 works – of this ad- mired, original painter had not been surveyed again since the exhibitions revolving around Chardin in 1979 and 1999 to commemorate the bicentennial of his death and the tricentennial of his birth. •
CHARDIN (1699- 1779)l Museo Nacional del Prado 1 March - 29 de May
