It Nearly Burned

The painting we admire today almost didn't survive. In 1734 a fire tore through the Alcázar palace in Madrid, where Las Meninas hung, and many royal artworks were lost. The canvas was reportedly cut from its frame and carried out, escaping with only minor damage along the edges.

Its sheer size made the rescue no small feat. Las Meninas is roughly ten feet tall, close to life-size, so the figures meet you almost eye to eye — part of why standing before it in the Prado feels less like viewing a picture and more like walking into the room.