“The Golden Age of Spanish Art”, organized by the Museo de Arte de Ponce, opens at the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico

(Tuesday, August 9, 2022 – San Juan, Puerto Rico) The exceptional exhibition The Golden Age of Spanish Art is the second proposal of the Museo de Arte de Ponce to be presented at the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico as part of the historic alliance established by both museums until 2024.

The exhibition, which opens to the public on Saturday, August 13, is composed of a selection of 14 works, twelve paintings and two sculptures, among which are important examples of the great masters of the Spanish “Golden Age”. “The public will have the unique opportunity to appreciate works such as ‘The Immaculate Conception’, by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, ‘Saint Francis of Assisi in meditation with Brother León’, by Doménikos Theotokópoulos, better known as “el Greco”, and the ‘Christ on the Cross’ by Francisco de Zurbarán. These are masterpieces of universal art that are proudly part of the Spanish collection of the Museo de Arte de Ponce and, therefore, of the cultural heritage of all Puerto Ricans,” said Cheryl Hartup, Director of the Museo de Arte de Ponce. “The Spanish collection is one of the most important and significant within the Museum’s repertoire of European art. Our founder, Don Luis A. Ferré, began collecting Spanish art before the opening of the institution in 1959,” Hartup added.

The Golden Age of Spanish Art, commissioned by Iraida Rodríguez-Negrón, Curator of the Museo de Arte de Ponce, is anchored in the flourishing artistic production in Spain from the mid-sixteenth century and during the seventeenth century. The development of art in this period, originating in the context of the Catholic Counter-Reformation, was fostered mainly by the patronage of the Spanish monarchy and religious orders. The leading artists of this era were admired not only by their contemporaries, but also by generations of artists and collectors in Europe and America.

“For me it has been an immense pleasure to work with this selection of works that, although small considering the size of our permanent collection, provides a very complete compendium of the production of a group of artists that is a faithful reflection of the social context in which they were created. His influence marked the history of art not only for decades, but for centuries. For example,we cannot forget how the works of the artists of the Spanish golden age contributed significantly to the beginning of the artistic avant-garde of the nineteenth century. And thanks to the vision of Luis A. Ferré and his commitment to the Puerto Rican people, we have these magnificent specimens on our island for the enjoyment of all.”

“We reiterate our gratitude to the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico for the great support offered to our team at the Museo de Arte de Ponce to, together, achieve the opening of the second of four exhibitions that we will showcase as part of this historic alliance. Above all, we value the commitment of its Board of Trustees and its entire team in making it possible for the Museo de Arte de Ponce to have a permanent space, in its facilities, so that the Puerto Rican community, and those who visit us from abroad, have access to the wonderful collection that houses the Museo de Arte de Ponce”. Cheryl Hartup said.

Juan Antonio Larrea, President of the Board of Trustees of the Museo se Arte de Puerto Rico informed, “It is an honor, for everyone at MAPR, to host and collaborate in the presentation of such an important exhibition, which gives access to the appreciation and enjoyment of an invaluable cultural and artistic heritage. The public will have the opportunity to see works by some of the most famous artists in the history of art – such as El Greco, Murillo and Zurbarán – without having to travel to Europe. We are very happy with this historic alliance between both museums, and we know that both locals and tourists who visit us will have an unforgettable experience when visiting the exhibition.”

The Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico is located at 299 De Diego Avenue, in Santurce, Puerto Rico. Its opening hours to the public are on Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Friday to Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, please contact the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico at 787-977-6277 or the Museo de Arte de Ponce at 787-840-1510. You can also access the websites of the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico www.mapr.org and the Museo de Arte de Ponce www.museoarteponce.org We invite you to follow us through the social networks of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter of both institutions using @museomapr and @museoarteponce for more information about the educational programming related to the exhibition. Admission tickets are available through the PRTicket.com platform.

About the Museo de Arte de Ponce:

The Museo de Arte de Ponce is a non-profit organization founded in 1959 by Luis A. Ferré (1904-2003) and accredited by the American Alliance of Museums since 1987. The institution is recognized worldwide as an important center of European art in America and offers its visitors a rich panorama of Western art, from the late Middle Ages to the dawn of the twentieth century. For six decades, the Museum has excelled in areas such as research, conservation and education, connecting the community with art.

About the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico:

The Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico (MAPR) is a non-profit organization inaugurated on July 1, 2000 and accredited by the American Alliance of Museums since 2012. Its mission is to study, research and preserve Puerto Rican artistic heritage in order to foster innovative, inclusive and participatory approaches among the visual arts and the communities it serves. In 2020, the Ford Foundation included MAPR on its America’s Cultural Treasures list for its track record of excellence and significant impact on the cultural landscape. Located at #299 De Diego Avenue, in Santurce, its important and varied art collection houses works by Puerto Rican artists, or residents of Puerto Rico, from the 18th century to the present.