Madrid’s Museo del Prado has acquired Fra Angelico’s “The Virgin of the Pomegranate” from the Alba ducal collection for 18 million Euros. It is the only masterpiece of early 15th-century Florentine painting and the only masterpiece by Fra Angelico to remain in private hands.“The Virgin of the Pomegranate” takes its title from the pomegranate being held by the Virgin and touched by the Christ Child. According to the Museum, in the Virgin’s hands the pomegranate refers to her chastity, while by touching it the Christ Child prefigures his own death and resurrection.The sale was negotiated by Carlos Fitz-James Stuart y Martínez de Irujo, 19th Duke of Alba de Tormes, who has also donated a predella panel on the subject of the death of Saint Anthony Abbot, which was recently attributed to Fra Angelico following research on the work by the Prado.Both works were acquired in Florence in 1817 by Carlos Miguel Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, 14th Duke of Alba, who had them sent to Spain where they entered the Alba ducal collection. The present Duke of Alba is responsible for the administration of the House of Alba and is president of its Foundation.The Duke of Alba said, “The Fundación Casa de Alba is extremely proud to hand over to the Museo del Prado these masterpieces of European art, reunited and cared for by my family for two centuries, so that from now on they can be enjoyed by all Spaniards and art lovers, from every part of the world, who visit and admire our most important Museum.”
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