How the Spanish Republic saved the Prado’s masterpieces

July marks the 80th anniversary of the start of the Spanish Civil War. The conflict, which lasted until late March 1939, pitched the forces of General Franco and his allies from Nazi Germany and fascist Italy against the elected government of the Second Republic and its anti-fascist supporters. The struggle included the bombing of civilian targets made infamous by Picasso’s Guernica and the burning of church buildings such as Vich Cathedral, which housed precious murals created by Jos&eac