Auckland Castle Exterior, Graeme Peacock. Courtesy of Auckland Castle, Photo by Colin Davison. © Auckland Castle Trust/ Zurbarán Trust

DALLAS, TX.- On September 17, 2017, the Meadows will present Zurbarán: Jacob and his Twelve Sons, Paintings from Auckland Castle, a series of 13 life-size paintings making their first trip to the United States in the most important Zurbarán exhibition in 30 years. Proposed by the Meadows, the project is co-organized with Auckland Castle in County Durham, England, and The Frick Collection in New York, where it will be on view in the spring of 2018. This series of works was purchased in 1756 by Richard Trevor, Bishop of Durham; Trevor subsequently redesigned Auckland Castle’s Long Dining Room to house the paintings, which together comprise one of the most significant public collections of the artist’s work outside Spain. The upcoming restoration of Auckland Castle—which involves the temporary deinstallation of the series from the room where the paintings have hung for more than 250 years—presents this unique study and exhibition opportunity. Before their display in the U.S., the paintings will undergo technical analysis at the Kimbell Art Museum’s noted conservation lab.

The Zurbaran paintings and other works hanging in Auckland Castle’s Long Dining Room. Photo by Colin Davison. © Auckland Castle Trust/ Zurbarán Trust

Francisco de Zurbarán was born in Fuente de Cantos, in Western Spain, but spent most of his working life in Seville. Like Ribera, Zurbarán is also considered a Caravaggisti, particularly for his exceptional use of chiaroscuro. 

These 13 paintings (12 by Zurbarán and one a direct copy of the work by Zurbarán) are a visual narrative of Jacob’s deathbed act of bestowing a blessing on each son, foretelling their destinies and those of their tribes. Although each painting holds it’s own as an exceptional portrait, seeing the works together provides a unique experience for viewers, transporting them across history to make them a witness to that moment. At the Meadows, the paintings will be displayed together in one gallery. It is not known who originally commissioned the series, but they were auctioned from the collection of a Jewish merchant named Benjamin Mendez in 1756. Richard Trevor, Bishop of Durham, acquired the paintings for Auckland Castle, seeing in the public presentation of these works an opportunity to make a statement about the need for social, political and religious understanding and tolerance between Christians and Jews in Great Britain. 

At the Kimbell Art Museum, the paintings will undergo in-depth technical study for the first time, including the use of infrared reflectography, ultra-violet light, x-radiography and pigment analysis. The goals of this work are twofold: first, to gain a better understanding of Zurbarán’s artistic process by exploring this unique series of related works; and second, to identify any additional needs for their ongoing conservation and care after they return to the U.K. 

Accompanying the exhibition and conservation research will be an illustrated catalogue containing scholarly essays exploring the series from various historical, religious and artistic perspectives. Dr. Mark A. Roglán, Director, Meadows Museum, is the scientific director of the project and has helped to gather contributions by Claire Barry, Director of Conservation, Kimbell Art Museum; Professor John Barton, Oriel and Laing Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture, Emeritus at Oxford University; Dr. Jonathan Brown, Carroll and Milton Petrie Professor of Fine Arts at New York University; Dr. Christopher Ferguson, Curatorial, Conservation and Exhibitions Director, Auckland Castle; Dr. Susan Grace Galassi, Senior Curator, The Frick Collection; Akemi Herráez Vossbrink, PhD Candidate at University of Cambridge; Alexandra Letvin, PhD Candidate at Johns Hopkins University; and Dr. Edward Payne, Senior Curator, Spanish Art, Auckland Castle. This exhibition and study have been coorganized by the Meadows Museum, SMU; The Frick Collection; and Auckland Castle; in association with the Kimbell Art Museum. A generous gift from The Meadows Foundation has made this exhibition and study possible, with additional support from the Centro de Estudios Europa Hispánica and the Center for Spain in America.

Francisco de Zurbarán (Spanish, 1598-1664), Jacob, c. 1640-45. Oil on canvas. Auckland Castle, County Durham © Auckland Castle Trust/Zurbarán Trust. Photo by Robert Laprelle.

Francisco de Zurbarán (Spanish, 1598-1664), Reuben, c. 1640-45. Oil on canvas. Auckland Castle, County Durham © Auckland Castle Trust/Zurbarán Trust. Photo by Robert Laprelle.