The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, has announced that more than 100 masterworks from one of the world’s most renowned collections of European painting will be presented at the MFAH beginning December 16, 2012, in Portrait of Spain: Masterpieces from the Prado. The exhibition—on exclusive U.S. loan in Houston as part of a new initiative by the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid to broaden access to its holdings—tells the story of the evolution of painting in Spain from the 16th through 19th centuries and explores how artists reflected the sweeping changes in society, culture, politics and religion that contributed to the development of a modern Spanish identity. Portrait of Spain opened July 21 at the Queensland Art Gallery in Brisbane, Australia, the first stop on this two-venue tour.
“Portrait of Spain will bring to U.S. audiences an extraordinary panorama of courtly and religious paintings by some of the greatest European artists—above all the Spanish masters such as Goya and Velázquez, but also foreign luminaries who worked for the Spanish court, including Rubens and Titian,” commented MFAH Director Gary Tinterow. “This exhibition marks the first time that the Prado has lent so extensively to an American institution. It is a wonderful privilege for the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, to have this exclusive U.S. showing, and I am especially looking forward to presenting these iconic paintings to our communities.”
“Nothing quite illustrates Spain’s rich tradition of arts and culture like the Prado, one of the finest museums in the world,” said BBVA Compass President and CEO Manolo Sánchez. “That's why BBVA Compass seized the opportunity to sponsor this exhibit. As part of the BBVA Group, which is headquartered in Spain, we are proud to help bring it to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and excited for the city to experience some of Europe’s greatest painters.”
Exhibition Dates
Portrait of Spain: Masterpieces from the Prado will be on view at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, from December 16, 2012, through March 31, 2013.
Exhibition Overview
Portrait of Spain, exhibited in the second-floor galleries of the Audrey Jones Beck Building at the MFAH, will be installed according to themes within three distinct eras of Spanish history: 1550 to 1770; 1770 to 1850; and 1850 to 1900. Masterpieces by the leading painters of the day from each of the four centuries include works by Francisco de Goya, El Greco, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Jusepe de Ribera and Diego Velázquez. Artists who worked for the royal court and directly influenced the development of painting in Spain are also well represented, with superb paintings by Peter Paul Rubens, Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo and Titian.
1) “1550–1770: Painting in an Absolutist State”
Outstanding portraits, mythological scenes, devotional paintings and still lifes by artists including El Greco, Diego Velázquez and Francisco de Zurbarán exemplify the splendor of Spain’s Golden Age, when the empire was at the zenith of its global power, and offer a glimpse of courtly life under the expansionist Habsburg (1516–1700) and later the Bourbon (1700–1808) monarchs, who ushered in the Enlightenment to Spain. The use of portraiture and mythological themes as expressions of royal power; the role of religious imagery in painting; and the symbolism employed in still-life imagery to espouse the virtues of a civil society all factor in the development of Spanish painting during this time.
The Infanta Isabel Clara Eugenia and Magdalena Ruiz,Alonso Sánchez Coello. 1585–88, oil on canvas, Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid
Diego Velázquez, El bufón don Diego de Acedo, “el Primo”, ca. 1636-1638, oil on canvas, 42 1/8 x 32 5/16 in. (107 x 82 cm). Museo Nacional del Prado.
Diego Velázquez’ Workshop, Retrato orante de Mariana de Austria, ca. 1655, oil on canvas, 82 5/16 x 57 7/8 in. (209
Diego Velázquez, King Philip IV (1605–1665) in Hunting Garb, circa 1635, oil on canvas, Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid.
Diego Velazquez Mars
Antonio de Pereda The Relief of Genoa (1634-35),
Diego Velazquez, The Surrender at Breda (1634-35).
Juan Carreno De Miranda The Monster 1680.
Vicente López y Portaña, Señora Delicado de Imaz
Pleasure and pride ... Juan van der Hamen y Leon
Francisco de ZurbaranMartyrdom of Saint James (c.1640)
2) “1770–1850: A Changing World”
Against the tumultuous backdrop of the French Revolution; the Napoleonic Wars and France’s invasion of Spain; and the onset of a series of devastating civil wars, Spanish artists in the late 18th and early 19th centuries turned to chronicling a variety of levels of Spanish society. Preeminent among the artists during this unpredictable time was Francisco de Goya, who was painter to the courts of Charles IV and Charles V and who later in life graphically depicted the casualties of war and madness.
In this exhibition, Goya’s work is represented by major Neoclassical portraits, including those of
Manuel Silvela
and the Marquesa de Villafranca,
and an important selection of prints from the artist’s three extraordinary series: Los Caprichos, Los Disparates and Los Desastres de la Guerra (The Disasters of War).
Francisco de Goya, Tadea Arias de Enríquez, ca. 1789, oil on canvas, 74 13/16 x 41 ¾ in. (190 x 106 cm). Museo Nacional del Prado.
3) “1850–1900: The Threshold of Modern Spain”
Following the civil wars, the emergence of a fledgling Spanish national identity in the mid-19th century was supported by a period of relative economic prosperity. A move toward Romanticism brought with it a focus on genres that reflected the ideals of middle-class taste of the period, including landscapes, portraits, historical and religious scenes and nudes. Featured in this section are the works of Federico de Madrazo, known for his history painting and his portraits (and as a onetime director of the Prado); Eduardo Rosales, who looked back to Diego Velázquez in pursuit of a new Realism in Spanish painting; Mariano Fortuny, whose fascination with Orientalist themes reflected his exotic travels and international career; Aureliano de Beruete, one of the earliest Spanish painters to identify with the Impressionist movement; and Joaquín Sorolla, whose Realist paintings depicting the lives of fishermen and farmers explored the effects of sunlight and shadow and pushed Spanish painting toward the threshold of modernity.
Eduardo Rosales Gallinas Female Nude (after bathing) (c. 1869)
Picasso La Belle Hollandaise (1905)
Read more about the show here
Exhibit List
1550 - 1770. Painting in an absolutist state
1.1. Portriat and Power: Kings and Buffoons
1. Doña Juana de Austria
Antonio Moro
Oil on canvas, 195 x 105 cm
1560
2. Isabel Clara Eugenia and Magdalena Ruiz
Alonso Sánchez Coello
Oil on canvas, 207 x 129 cm
1585 – 1588
3. Philip IV as a Hunter
Diego Velázquez
Oil on canvas, 189 x 124 cm
c. 1635
4. Empress Margarita de Austria
Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo
Oil on canvas, 205 x 144 cm
1666
5. Charles II in Armour
Juan Carreño de Miranda
Oil on canvas, 232 x 125 cm
1681
6. Louis I, Prince of Asturias
Michel-Ange Houasse
Oil on canvas, 172 x 112 cm
1717
7. Charles IV, Prince of Asturias
Antón Rafael Mengs
Oil on canvas, 152 x 110 cm
c. 1765
8. The Duke of Pastrana
Juan Carreño de Miranda
Oil on canvas, 217 x 155 cm
c. 1666
9. Don Tiburcio de Redín
Fray Juan Ricci
Oil on canvas, 203 x 124 cm
1635
10. Francisco Lezcano, “The Boy from Vallecas”
Diego Velázquez
Oil on canvas, 107 x 83 cm
1635 – 1645
11. Eugenia Martínez Vallejo, ''The Monster'', dressed
Juan Carreño de Miranda
Oil on canvas, 165 x 107 cm
c. 1680
12. Democritus (?)
José de Ribera
Oil on canvas, 125 x 81 cm
1630
13. Portrait of a Buffoon with a Dog
Velázquez’s Workshop
Oil on canvas, 142 x 107 cm
c. 1645
1.2. Mythology as the Language of Power
14. The Relief of Genoa
Antonio de Pereda
Oil on canvas, 290 x 370 cm
1634 – 1635
15. Hunting in Aranjuez
Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo
Oil on canvas, 187 x 249 cm
XVII Century
16. Hercules and the Dog Cerberus
Francisco de Zurbarán
Oil on canvas, 132 x 151 cm
1634
17.Vulcan Forging the Thunderbolts of Jupiter
Pedro Pablo Rubens
Oil on canvas, 181 x 98 cm
1636 - 1639
18. Flora the Goddess
Luca Giordano
Oil on canvas, 169 x 109 cm
c. 1697
19. The Olympus: Battle with Giants
Francisco Bayeu y Subías
Oil on canvas, 68 x 123 cm
1764
1.3. Painting and Religion: Sacrifice, Intimacy and The Saint as Hero
20. Christ carrying the Cross
Tiziano
Oil on canvas, 67 x 77 cm
c. 1565
21. The Holy Visage
El Greco
Oil on canvas, 71 x 54 cm
1586 - 1595
22. Christ, Man of Sorrows
Antonio de Pereda y Salgado
Oil on canvas, 97 x 78 cm
1641
23. The Dead Christ Held by an Angel
Alonso Cano
Oil on canvas, 137 x 100 cm
1646 - 1652
24. Reclining Christ
Juan Antonio de Frías y Escalante
Oil on canvas, 84 x 162 cm
1663
25. Christ on the Path to Calvary
Juan de Valdés Leal
Oil on canvas, 167 x 145 cm
26. Prayer in the Orchard
Giandomenico Tiepolo
Oil on canvas, 125 x 142 cm
1771 - 1772
27. The Immaculate Conception of Aranjuez
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
Oil on canvas, 222 x 118 cm
1670 - 1680
28. The Annunciation
Francisco Rizi
Oil on canvas, 112 x 96 cm
c. 1665
29. The Holy Family
Vicente Carducho
Oil on canvas, 150 x 115 cm
1631
30. The Adoration of the Shepards
Pedro de Orrente
Oil on canvas, 111 x 162 cm
c. 1623
31. Saint Benedict
El Greco
Oil on canvas, 116 x 81 cm
1577 – 1579
32. Saint James the Elder
José de Ribera
Oil on canvas, 202 x 146 cm
1631
33. James’ Martyrdom
Francisco de Zurbarán
Oil on canvas, 252 x 186 cm
c. 1639
34. The Penitent Saint Jerome
José de Ribera
Oil on canvas, 77 x 71 cm
1652
35. The Death of Mary Magdalene
José Antolínez
Oil on canvas, 205 x 163 cm
c. 1672
36. The Martyrdom of Saint Andrew
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
Oil on canvas, 123 x 162 cm
1675 - 1682
37. Saint Matthew and Saint John the Evangelist
Juan Ribalta
Oil on canvas, 66 x 102 cm
1675 - 1682
1.4. Civil Society: The Still Life
38. Still Life with Thistle, Grapes and Iris
Felipe Ramírez
Oil on canvas, 71 x 92 cm
1628
39. Still Life with Fruits and Vegetables
Juan van der Hamen y León
Oil on canvas, 56 x 110 cm
1623
40. Dish with Plums and Cherries
Juan van der Hamen y León
Oil on canvas, 20 x 28 cm
1627
41. Octogonal Still Life with Grape Bunches
Juan de Espinosa
Oil on canvas, 67 x 68 cm
1646
42. Two Fruit Bowls on a Table
Tomás Hiepes
Oil on canvas, 67 x 96 cm
1642
43. Delf Fruit Bowl and Two Vases
Tomás Hiepes
Oil on canvas, 67 x 96 cm
1642
44. Agnus Dei
Francisco de Zurbarán
Oil on canvas, 37 x 62 cm
1632 - 1640
45. Flower Vase
Juan de Arellano
Oil on canvas, 60 x 45 cm
Second half of the XVII Century
46. Flower Vase
Juan de Arellano
Oil on canvas, 60 x 46 cm
Second half of the XVII Century
47. Basket of Flowers
Juan de Arellano
Oil on canvas, 84 x 105 cm
1668 – 1670
48. Still Life with a Chocolate Service
Luis Egidio Meléndez
Oil on canvas, 50 x 37 cm
1770
49. Still Life with Pitcher and Bread
Luis Egidio Meléndez
Oil on canvas, 48 x 34 cm
XVIII Century
1770 - 1850. A CHANGING WORLD
2.1. Images of a Society
50. The Pottery Vendor
Francisco de Goya
Oil on canvas, 259 x 220 cm
1778 - 1779
51. The Tobacco Guards
Francisco de Goya
Oil on canvas, 262 x 137 cm
1779 – 1780
52. The Meadow of San Isidro
José del Castillo
Oil on canvas, 49 x 99 cm
1785
53. Comdey Rehearsal
Luis Paret y Alcázar
Oil on canvas, 38 x 51 cm
1772 – 1773
54. The Blind Musician
Ramón Bayeu y Subías
Oil on canvas, 93 x 145 cm
c. 1786
55. The Viaticum
Leonardo Alenza y Nieto
Oil on canvas, 77 x 63 cm
1840
2.2. Portrait and Daily Life
56. The Marchioness of Villafranca
Francisco Goya
Oil on canvas, 87 x 72 cm
c. 1795
57. Tomás de Iriarte
Joaquín Inza
Oil on canvas, 82 x 59 cm
c. 1785
58. Feliciana Bayeu, Daughther of the Painter
Francisco Bayeu y Subías
Oil on canvas, 38 x 30 cm
c. 1788
59. Mrs. Delicado Imaz
Vicente López Portaña
Oil on canvas 109 x 86 cm
1832 – 1833
60. Self-Portrait
Zacarías González Velázquez
Oil on canvas, 59 x 46 cm
1810 - 1813
61. Pedro Benítez and his Daughter María de la Cruz
Rafael Tegeo Díaz
Oil on canvas, 174 x 128 cm
c. 1820
62. Sofía Vela y Querol
Federico de Madrazo y Kuntz
Oil on canvas, 62 x 50 cm
1850
2.3. Reason and Madness
63. Caprice 3. Que viene el coco
Francisco de Goya
Paper, 216 x 153 mm
64. Caprice 61. Volaverunt
Francisco de Goya
Paper, 215 x 150 mm
65. Caprice 48. Soplones
Francisco de Goya
Paper, 206 x 150 mm
66. Caprice 77. Unos a otros
Francisco de Goya
Paper, 215 x 150 mm
1799
67. Caprice 40. ¿De qué mal morirá?
Francisco de Goya
Paper, 215 x 150 mm
1799
68. Caprice 9. Tántalo
Francisco de Goya
Paper, 204 x 150 mm
1799
69. Disaster 1. Tristes presentimientos de lo que ha de acontecer
Francisco de Goya
Paper, 178 x 220 mm
70. Disaster 11. Ni por esas
Francisco de Goya
Paper, 162 x 213 mm
71. Disaster 28. Populacho
Francisco de Goya
Paper, 177 x 220 mm
72. Disaster 25. También estos
Francisco de Goya
Papel, 165 x 236 mm
73. Disaster 22. Tanto y más
Francisco de Goya
Paper, 162 x 253 mm
74. Disaster 39. ¡Grande hazaña! ¡Con muertos!
Francisco de Goya
Paper, 156 x 208 mm
75. Disaster 72. Las resultas
Francisco de Goya
Paper, 179 x 220 mm
76. Disaster 74. Esto es lo peor!
Francisco de Goya
Paper, 179 x 220 mm
77. Disaster 79. Murió la verdad
Francisco de Goya
Paper, 176 x 221 mm
78. Disaster 50. ¡Madre infeliz!
Francisco de Goya
Paper, 157 x 206 mm
79. Disaster 40. Algún partido saca
Francisco de Goya
Paper, 177 x 221
80. Folly 10. Disparate desenfrenado (o El caballo raptor)
Francisco de Goya
Paper, 245 x 356 mm
81. Folly 1: Disparate femenino
Francisco de Goya
Paper, 245 x 350 mm
82. Folly 3: Disparate ridículo
Francisco de Goya
Paper, 245 x 350 mm
83. Folly 13. Modo de volar
Francisco de Goya
Paper, 245 x 360 mm
84. Folly 8. Los entalegados (o ensacados)
Francisco de Goya
Paper, 245 x 350 mm
1850 - 1900. THE THRESHOLD OF MODERN SPAIN
3.1. Traditionalist Reflection: Spain’s History, Literature and Landscape
85. The Dementia of Juana de Castilla
Lorenzo Vallés
Oil on canvas, 238 x 313 cm
1866
86. View of Toledo
Ricardo Arredondo Calmache
Oil on canvas, 11 x 101 cm
c. 1900
87. Sancho Panza Meets Rucio
José Moreno Carbonero
Oil on canvas, 48 x 78 cm
1876 - 1878
88. Landscape: Memories from Andalucia, Mediterrean Coast next to Torremolinos
Carlos de Haes
Oil on canvas, 114 x 165 cm
1860
89. Landscape with a Flock
Ramón Martí Alsina
Oil on canvas, 112 x 205 cm
Siglo XIX
90. The Neibourhood of Bellas Vistas
Aureliano de Beruete y Moret
Oil on canvas, 57 x 81 cm
1906
3.2. Spanish Painting Mirrors Itself
91. Segismundo Moret
Federico Madrazo
Oil on canvas, 118 x 90 cm
1855
92. Manuel Silvela
Francisco Goya
Oil on canvas, 95 x 68 cm
1810 – 1813
93. Saint Andrew
José de Ribera
Oil on canvas, 123 x 95 cm
c. 1631
94. Elderly Nude Man in the Sun
Mariano Fortuny y Marsal
Oil on canvas, 76 x 60 cm
c. 1871
95.The Marchioness of Montelo
Federico de Madrazo y Kuntz
Oil on canvas, 130 x 98 cm
1855
96. Virgin and Child
Antonio María Esquivel
Oil on canvas, 172 x 135 cm
1856
97. Virgin and Child
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
Oil on canvas, 151 x 103 cm
1655 – 1665
98. Mars
Diego Velázquez
Oil on canvas, 179 x 95 cm
c. 1638
99. The Child María Figueroa Dressed as a Menina
Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida
Oil on canvas, 151 x 121 cm
1901
100. Francisco de Paula Antonio de Borbón, Infante
Francisco de Goya
Oil on canvas, 89 x 76 cm
101. Female Nude
Eduardo Rosales Gallinas
Oil on canvas, 185 x 90 cm
1901
102. The Pardo Garden Wall
Aureliano de Beruete y Moret
Oil on canvas, 47 x 52 cm
1911
