SEVILLE.- The Museum of Fine Arts in Seville will host the exhibition "From El Greco to Zuloaga: Spanish Masterpieces from the Museum of Fine Arts of Bilbao" from December 3, 2024, to March 16, 2025. The exhibition features 26 paintings and two sculptures that showcase the exceptional quality of the Spanish art collection held by the Bilbao museum.

Curated by José Luis Merino Gorospe, conservator of Ancient Art at the Bilbao Museum, the exhibition traces the evolution of Spanish art from the late 16th to the early 20th century. Divided into three thematic sections, it highlights a range of artistic styles and cultural influences:

• From the Table to the Horizon – This section presents artists who moved beyond religious themes and human figures to focus on still lifes and landscapes, mastering these genres with unparalleled skill.

• Beyond the Surface: Portraits – This segment explores how monarchs and nobles sought to project their identities through portraiture, often revealing contrasting historical realities.

• Lights and Shadows of Devotion: Sacred Art – Reflecting on the Counter-Reformation, this section examines the production of devotional imagery aimed at reinforcing faith during tumultuous times.

One of the exhibition’s highlights is The Bullring of Seville (c. 1870) by Mariano Fortuny, recently acquired by the Bilbao museum. The painting, displayed for the first time, provides both artistic and iconographic insights into the setting it portrays.

Notable Artists and Works

The exhibition features masterpieces by renowned Spanish artists such as El Greco, Francisco de Zurbarán, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Luis Paret, Francisco de Goya, and Ignacio Zuloaga. In addition to paintings, it includes two religious wood carvings: Calvary (c. 1576–1580) by Juan de Anchieta and Sorrowful Virgin (c. 1754–1756) by Juan Pascual de Mena.

Seville’s influence on Spanish art is evident, with works from artists who built their careers in the city, including Ignacio de Iriarte, Juan de Roelas, Francisco de Herrera the Elder, and Bartolomé Esteban Murillo.

Accessibility for Visually Impaired Visitors

The exhibition offers an innovative tactile-visual guide for visually impaired visitors. This guide includes six selected works, presented in Braille and large print, with tactile diagrams that allow visitors to explore the compositions by touch. Accompanying text provides concise descriptions and guides tactile exploration.

Visitors will also find a tactile map at the entrance, highlighting the location of each artwork. Two copies of the tactile-visual guide can be borrowed for use during the visit, and the space is equipped with tactile floor markers to facilitate navigation.

This thoughtfully curated exhibition not only showcases the richness of Spanish art but also ensures that it is accessible to a diverse audience, reinforcing the inclusive mission of the museum.