Artwork
Poesía

Poesía is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Juan José Zapater Rodríguez. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting measures 125 cm in height and 200 cm in width, and it is housed in the Museo del Prado, where it remains part of the museum’s collection.
Poesía depicts a document and a hand fan, rendered in oil paint on canvas. The work is interpreted as a symbolic representation of communication and cultural exchange, reflecting the historical context of late 19th‑century Spanish artistic practice. Its meaning is tied to the literary theme of poetry itself, using visual motifs to evoke the act of writing and the transmission of ideas.
The painting measures 125 cm in height and 200 cm in width, and it is housed in the Museo del Prado, where it remains part of the museum’s collection.
Technique & Style
Poesía is an oil painting on canvas measuring 125 cm by 200 cm, created in 1890 by Juan José Zapater Rodríguez. The work depicts a document and a hand fan, reflecting formal qualities characteristic of late 19th-century Spanish painting. It is housed in the Museo del Prado, where it remains on view.
History & Provenance
Juan José Zapater Rodríguez created Poesía in 1890. Executed in oil paint on canvas, the artwork measures 125 by 200 centimeters. The painting is part of the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it is cataloged under the inventory number P007386.
The painting Poesía is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. Within the museum's inventory, the work is cataloged under the accession number P007386. Created in 1890 by Juan José Zapater Rodríguez, the oil on canvas piece measures 125 cm in height and 200 cm in width.
The provided sources confirm its current location and classification but do not contain specific records regarding its past exhibition history or previous ownership transfers.
Context
Poesía is an 1890 oil painting by Spanish artist Juan José Zapater Rodríguez, currently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado where it is catalogued as part of the museum's holdings. The work measures 125 cm in height and 200 cm in width and depicts a document and a hand fan. Zapater Rodríguez was an active figure in late 19th-century Spanish art, associated with the broader circle of academic painters working in Madrid during that period.
His paintings are noted for their precise draftsmanship and thematic focus on everyday objects rendered with symbolic detail. Poesía has been discussed in scholarly literature as an example of the period's exploration of textual motifs within visual art, reflecting broader cultural conversations about language and representation in the late 1800s. The painting's composition and subject matter align with contemporary trends in Spanish academic art, particularly the emphasis on detailed realism and narrative clarity.
Its presence in the Museo del Prado's collection underscores its significance within institutional efforts to preserve and contextualize 19th-century Spanish artistic production.
Overview
Poesía is an 1896 oil painting by Spanish artist Juan José Zapater Rodríguez, housed at the Museo del Prado. Contrary to its title suggesting a solitary poetic theme, the work depicts a group of seven formally attired individuals engaged in conversation around a table.
Legacy
While Poesía itself may not be widely recognized outside the context of Zapater Rodríguez's oeuvre or the Prado's collection, it contributes to the broader understanding of Spanish Realist painting of its time, highlighting themes of social refinement and the artistic techniques of the period.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Juan José Zapater Rodríguez (1867–1922) was an artist, born in Valencia.


















