# Prado and Rijksmuseum art history partnership

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/prado-and-rijksmuseum-art-history-partnership
> Updated: 2026-10-02T00:07:50.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

The Museo del Prado and the Rijksmuseum have established a strategic partnership to examine the role of women in art history, specifically within the context of the shared Habsburg heritage between Spain and the Netherlands.

The collaboration focuses on the concept of “matronage,” a term used by curators to describe women who exercised political power and shaped cultural history as promoters, collectors, and financiers of art. This research highlights female regents such as Margaret of Austria, Mary of Hungary, and Margaret of Parma, who governed the Netherlands for nearly 60 years.

The initiative includes an international research fellowship launching in September 2027, providing scholars access to both institutions' archives. The partnership is expected to culminate in a major exhibition at the Rijksmuseum in 2029.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-02: Rijksmuseum and Prado partner to study 16th-century female rulers

The Rijksmuseum and Museo Nacional del Prado are partnering to study the “matronage” and artistic influence of 16th-century female rulers within the Habsburg Empire, leading to a 2029 exhibition.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/rijksmuseum-and-prado-partner-to-study-16th-century-female-rulers

### 2026-09-29: Prado and Rijksmuseum partner to highlight women in art

The Museo del Prado and Rijksmuseum have launched a strategic alliance to research and exhibit the historical significance of women in Spanish and Dutch art history.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/prado-and-rijksmuseum-partner-to-highlight-women-in-art

---
Cite as: Prado and Rijksmuseum art history partnership. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/prado-and-rijksmuseum-art-history-partnership