The Meadows Museum, on the campus of Southern Methodist University, has just added three important works to its rapidly growing collection of Spanish art. The acquisitions will help lead up to the museum鈥檚 50th anniversary next year.
The trio of works doesn鈥檛 just represent a pre-celebration of a golden anniversary.
鈥淲e really want to strengthen our position as one of the greatest holdings of Spanish art, particularly outside of Spain ... in all its diversity, whether it's paintings by old masters or modern masters or wonderful sculptures like the work of Munoz," said Nicole Atzbach, the Meadows curator.
Atzbach is especially taken by a 1996 Juan Munoz sculpture called "Seated Figure Looking Backwards."
鈥淚t鈥檚 a man sitting in his chair,鈥� Atzbach explains, 鈥渁nd he鈥檚 turning around and he鈥檚 facing backwards. And the way that he鈥檚 installed right now he鈥檚 actually facing our new painting by Barcelo. So there鈥檚 this interesting dialogue going on between these two new acquisitions.鈥�
The large painting that the small sculpted man faces dates from 1985, Miguel Barcelo鈥檚 鈥淪oup of Europe.鈥� There鈥檚 also a late 19th century canvas by Raimundo de Madrazo called 鈥淧ortrait of a Lady.鈥�
鈥淪he鈥檚 reading the newspaper,鈥� Atzbach says, 鈥渆njoying her morning coffee. And it was a wonderful painting we were able to find on auction in Philadelphia. It was sort of a hidden treasure and it鈥檚 in wonderful condition.鈥�
Critics consider much in the Meadows wonderful. The museum鈥檚 already renowned for Spanish masterworks by the likes of Ribera, Velazquez and Goya. The additional art helps expand its 19th and 20th century collection.
