Rubens' Equestrian Portrait of the Duke of Lerma at Prado

Peter Paul Rubens painted the Equestrian Portrait of the Duke of Lerma in 1603 during a diplomatic mission from Mantua to the Spanish court in Valladolid. The Duke of Lerma, Francisco Gómez de Sandoval y Rojas, was the powerful favorite of King Philip III. Rubens, then a young Flemish master, traveled with luxury gifts from his patron Duke Vincenzo Gonzaga, including crystal vases, a carriage, and copies of Renaissance masterpieces. Heavy rain damaged the canvases en route, so Rubens restored them and painted new works like Democritus and Heraclitus. The portrait breaks Renaissance rules with Baroque dynamism, showing the duke on a rearing horse. It is now in the Museo del Prado in Madrid, on permanent display. General admission is €15, with free entry for students under 25 and children under 18. Free admission is available Monday to Saturday from 6-8 PM and Sundays/holidays from 5-7 PM. The museum is accessible via Estación del Arte metro station.