Undamaged. Still Lifes from the Spanish Golden Age

Undamaged. Still Lifes from the Spanish Golden Age

Curator: 
Joan Yeguas
Price: 
€ 4
Location: 
Temporary exhibition room 2
PDF icon Press file (Spanish) - pdf 1,31 Mb

Press file (Spanish) - pdf 1,31 Mb

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Exhibition

Still life paintings, besides technical perfection in the depiction of food and flowers, contain a symbolic message related to the historical and moral context in which they were created. 

The Museu Nacional presents an exhibition of nineteen still life paintings of artists from the Spanish Golden Age, such as Juan van der Hamen, Pedro de Camprobín or Juan de ArellanoA selection of these art works are being incorporated in the permanent collection of the museum and will be exhibited in the new presentation of Renaissance and Baroque period, which will be inaugurated in 2016.

#naturesmortes

Exhibition catalogue Undamaged. Still Lifes from the Spanish Golden Age

Post in our blog about the exhibition

Incòlume. Natures mortes del Segle d’Or

Making of (Flickr album)

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Presentation

The exhibition features nineteen works from a private collection, executed by Spanish painters of the 17th century all of whom cultivated the still-life genre. In the canvases we observe eye-catching arrangements of natural produce and artificial objects, nature tamed by the action of man: from the larder of a farmstead, which depicts the simple life of humble folk, to a table laid with meticulously rendered objects, conceived for a select clientele who sought to flaunt their prosperity. There is also room for the sub-genre of vases of flowers, of both a decorative and symbolic nature, and a vanitas that reflects on the transitory nature of life on earth. It is a world in which time seems to have come to a standstill, because the compositions are unaltered, unsullied, still, dead. Life has halted and beauty has remained intact.

Activities
Activity based on the exhibition
30/01/201606/02/201613/02/201620/02/201627/02/2016
Maestro de Stirling-Maxwell, Still Life with Basket of Fruits, Pumpkin and Grapes, ca. 1615-1625. Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya. One of the most traditional still lifes depicts the farmhouse larder. A composition that pleases the eye and features a layout of natural produce, arranged either in an orderly fashion or rather haphazardly. These scenes convey the often idealised message of the simple, peaceful life of country folk.