Beruete y Moret, Aureliano de – Vista de Madrid desde la Pradera de San Isidro. Part 2 Prado Museum

The canvas presents a sweeping vista of a cityscape viewed from a broad, undulating expanse of grassland. The foreground is dominated by this verdant field, rendered in loose brushstrokes that suggest both texture and movement. Patches of light and shadow play across the grass, creating a sense of depth and atmospheric perspective. A meandering stream cuts through the meadow, reflecting the sky above and adding another layer to the composition’s visual complexity.
Scattered throughout the foreground are small clusters of figures – seemingly picnicking or strolling – their presence contributing to the impression of leisure and recreation within this natural setting. A few low-lying buildings with terracotta roofs punctuate the landscape, providing a sense of scale and anchoring the scene in a recognizable location.
Beyond the immediate foreground, the urban skyline rises gradually. Buildings are depicted as masses of color rather than precise architectural details; their forms blend into one another, softened by distance and atmospheric haze. The artist has employed a muted palette for the city itself – predominantly browns, grays, and ochres – which contrasts with the brighter greens of the foreground. This tonal distinction reinforces the separation between nature and urbanity.
The sky occupies a significant portion of the upper register, rendered in broad strokes of pale blue and white, suggesting diffused sunlight or an overcast day. The overall effect is one of tranquility and expansive space. There’s a deliberate lack of sharp focus; details are blurred, inviting the viewer to experience the scene as a fleeting impression rather than a precise representation.
Subtly, the painting conveys a sense of transition – a moment suspended between rural openness and urban density. The figures in the foreground seem almost oblivious to the imposing presence of the city behind them, suggesting a desire for escape or respite from the demands of urban life. The composition’s horizontal format reinforces this feeling of breadth and expansiveness, emphasizing the vastness of both the landscape and the cityscape it encompasses.