Reviews

The exhibition, the first one ever to be organised abroad with the Spanish collection from the famous Russian museum – historically the first of the big European museums to open a gallery dedicated to it – presents an excursus on the development of Spanish art between the XVI and XVII centuries: from Renaissance realism, influenced by Flemish and Venetian painting, to the great triumph of Baroque, so original in its wealth of expression and consummate technique, bearer of a brilliant inheritance for all seventeenth century painting both in the Old and New World.

Jusepe de Ribera Pentimento di San Pietro, 1630 Olio su tela, 75? 63,5 cm

The “siglo de oro” will thus be revived in the Visconti Castle of Pavia thanks to an extremely important group of works, mostly undivulged and never exhibited in Italy, amongst which the works of some of the greatest figures of the international art scene such as Velázquez, Murillo, de Ribera and de Zurbarán, together with a few choice works by artists of undiscussed value, such as Antonio de Pereda, Francisco Ribalta, Alonso Cano, Juan Valdes Leal, Juan Carrero de la Miranda and then again paintings by other less-known artists, which all together offer an exhaustive and fascinating overview of an age in which the arts flourished to an  extraordinary degree. The Spanish Painting Collection of the State Hermitage Museum had its origin when a few works of art were acquired by Emperor Alexander I. During his reign, and ahead of other European countries, a special gallery of Spanish paintings was opened at the Hermitage. Today a substantial part of this collection is exhibited by our Museum in Pavia, in the Visconti Castle. Never before have we exhibited outside the Hermitage so many pieces from our collection. The exhibition will include well-known paintings by very famous artists, but also paintings which are less known by the general public, but by no means less interesting. Some of these paintings have never left the walls of our Museum, some have been attributed new importance following constant research work (which is carried out uninterruptedly within our Museum), and quite a few paintings have been restored purposely for this exhibition. 

Franciso de Zubaran e bottega San Francesco con un teschio in mano, 1630 Olio su tela, 55,5?32,5 cm

The Hermitage Collection offers quite a complete overview of Spanish painting in the “Golden Century”. The development of the different successive styles can be followed: mannerism, realism, baroque. Some of the most important Spanish painters’ works are exhibited: Jusepe de Ribera, Francisco de Zurbarán, Diego Velázquez de Silva, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. Works with religious subjects are side by side with an unusual and number of other works dealing with more mundane subjects; here two paintings by Murillo and an allegory by Ribera are brought to mind, together with  numerous portraits showing us  the features of once famous personalities, and splendid still lives and landscapes.

The Hermitage is particularly proud of its Collection of Spanish paintings. These paintings have been “living” in Russia for a long time and have become a part of our national culture. Today we are happy to exhibit these extraordinary works in Italy so that the Italian public can enjoy them and see how we imagine Spain from the banks of the Nevá.

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Further information

Da Velazquez a Murillo