The Prado 2.0

Users of the Google Earth software can simply type in “Prado, Madrid” to be “flown” in to the virtual front door of the museum, where they are greeted by this explanation of the project, alongside 14 thumbnails of the paintings that can be viewed in high-resolution:

We present a virtual tour of fourteen masterpieces from the Museo Nacional del Prado, displayed in ultra high resolution, enabling you to see details of the paintings that have never been seen before. Thanks to the high resolution of the digital images, you can view the whole painting or zoom in on a small fragment. Given the plethora of masterpieces housed at the Museum, choosing which works to include was no easy task but this selection represents the best of the collection.

The Lede Blog – NYTimes.com

Amazing resolution. Let’s hope other museums follow the Prado’s lead.