Homoerotic Masterpieces In the Prado Museum In Madrid

The Prado is among the world's greatest art galleries, established in 1819 by Spain's royal family with a display of just 311 paintings. Today it exhibits more than 1,300 works, just a fraction of the 21,000 artworks on display. Among the Prado's collection are many titillating homo-erotic themed works. 

Biblical Saints

Gay art throughout history reflects the societies that created it. The ancient Greeks and Romans largely accepted homosexuality, but since the Medieval era the Catholic church took great interest in the message of art so homosexual men and women were cloaked as ancient mythology or as biblical saints. 

Fig. 1  King Charles V.  King Charles V portrayed as handsome and powerful dominating another man.

Three Meter Tall King

Entering the Prado's lobby you are greeted by a monumental bronze sculpture entitled Charles V and the Fury (Italian school 1564). The three meter tall king is nude and muscular, standing over an enchained enemy. Charles would be surprised that his statue has inspired countless gay men's dominance/submission fantasies. One unique feature is an armour suit attachable with screws. It seems odd that this powerful ruler would want to be depicted naked. Undoubtedly the artist flattered the aging king. 

Diego Velazquez is one of Spain's greatest painters. His masterpiece, the Triumph of Bacchus (or The Drunks) of 1620 commands light and shadow as the Roman god, Bacchus "anoints a peasant", freeing him from life's daily burdens. The gay interpretation is different. A kneeling man is ideally positioned to perform oral sex on naked Bacchus. The leering peasants get vicarious thrills and Bacchus seems delighted in anticipation. 

Fig.2  The Triumph of Bacchus.The god of wine is either anointing a peasant kneeling before him or awaiting his pleasure.

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A beautifully bronze depiction of Hermaphrodite (1652) by Matteo Bonuccelli typifies fem boys. The pretty son of Hermes and Aphrodite is both male and female. Diego Velazquez commissioned this copy of a Roman original. Life size Hermaphrodite embodies sensuality lying naked on rumpled bed sheets, face on the pillow, ready to take his lover's thrusts or perhaps having just finished.

Fig.3  Hermaphrodite, de Matteo Bonuccelli, 1652. The beautiful man/boy face down on rumpled bed sheets, apparently satiated with gay sex.

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The Prado's hottest gay attraction is the San Ildefenso Group (also called Castor and Pollux). Two naked young men, carved in marble, illustrate a Greek legend of friends who would die together rather sacrifice either one. One boy has his arm intimately around the other. They exemplify male beauty and passionate love. The 1st century Roman sculpture is in Neo-Greek style after Praxiteles.

Fig.4  Castor and Pollux . These naked and handsome lads loved each other. (Credit: Luis García)

We'll be continuing our trip to the homo-erotic rooms in the Prado museum in Premium including, among other things, a statue of the boy toy Antinous, Rubens' The Rape of Ganymede, Guido Reni's 1619 oil painting of Saint Sebastian, the marble portrait of Dionysus, lesbian-erotic treasures, Hieronymus Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights and many more...!!

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