Backstage at the Prado
From Santiago de Compostela, I flew to Madrid to visit my friend George Bisacca. George is a conservator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and he spends one month a year working at the Prado. This year he was restoring Albrecht Dürer’s Adam and Eve. His hospitality was amazing. Not only did he put me up, he also took me to a wild flamenco club, and to a fancy private party celebrating a young Galician artist. After seeing me perform some magic there and hearing me talk about perception, Enrique Quintana - the head of painting restoration at the Prado - offered to take me on a private tour of some of his favorite paintings in the museum, which he said had taught him about perception. It was one of the most thrilling experiences I have had in a long time… He showed me a portrait of Juan de Calabazas by Diego Velázquez and told me the most amazing story about it. Ask me about it next time you see me! We also spent a half hour in front of the Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch. It was truly a fascinating afternoon. ¡Muchas gracias, George y Enrique!
Below: Adam and Eve, Juan de Calabazas, Garden of Earthly Delights
