Buen Retiro Palace in Spain

Hand coloured illuminated optical print depicting the Buen Retiro in Madrid, Spain. The Buen Retiro was designed by the architect Carbonell and built on the orders of Philip IV of Spain as a secondary residence and place of recreation. The print shows the palace as seen from the square in front of it. In the front crowds of people wander around. The light sources and accents of the buildings and the stars in the sky are perforated. At the back of the print we see that the holes are covered with see-through paper. Some of the holes are coated with blue and red paint. This gives the illusion of coloured lights when the print is held in front of a light source. Title written in ink on the back.