The Prado Museum has announced that it is giving its most iconic space, the Central Gallery, a fresh look. The museum is replacing its signature grayish-green walls with a deep blue that, according to museum officials, will enhance the intensity of the colors in the large canvases by Rubens, Titian and Tintoretto.

Starting in the coming days, the museum will begin a six-week renovation of its Central Gallery. The decision follows a successful trial run during a recent exhibition on El Greco, where a similar blue backdrop was used to dramatic effect. The choice of blue is not arbitrary; it is a color with a strong presence in art history, famously used by Spanish masters like Velázquez and Murillo. The museum had been experimenting with different shades for months before the El Greco show.

The Central Gallery has been the backbone of the Prado’s permanent exhibition and a symbolic space for the institution since its opening in 1821. Over more than two centuries, it has undergone numerous architectural, museographic, and color changes reflecting shifts in aesthetic sensibilities, museographic trends, and the museum’s historical context. From the light greenish-gray of 1927 to the current greenish-gray, each color has dialogued with the displayed works and the natural light.

To minimize disruption, the renovation will be completed in two phases. Visitors will still be able to navigate the museum and see its most famous works while the technical team works on one section at a time. The project is expected to be completed by the beginning of October.