National Exhibition of Fine Arts (Spain)

Last updated

The National Exhibition of Fine Arts (Spanish: Exposiciones Nacionales de Bellas Artes) was a regular event that took place in Spain from 1856 to 1968; usually in Madrid. These exhibitions were in the form of a competition, established by a Royal Decree from Queen Isabella II in 1853. It was the largest official exhibition of Spanish art.

Contents

It was initially divided into five categories: Painting, Sculpture, Engraving, Architecture, and Decorative Arts. Painting was always considered the most prestigious category, however, and Decorative Arts was only occasional. Although the decree specified that they were to be held biennially, this was not always strictly observed.

Origins and proposals

The process began when it was noted by many critics that Spain was underrepresented in most international exhibitions. There were also widespread feelings that Spanish art had become decadent since the old patronage system, supported by the Catholic church and the aristocracy, had disappeared; due in large part to the continuing Confiscation. Then, in 1851, the Parisian cultural journal, L'Illustration , ran an article on the International Exposition of Fine Arts in Brussels with the headline, "L'Espagne n'existe plus!" (Spain no longer exists). [1]

At that time, the recognized model for art exhibitions was the Paris Salon, with its regulations, juries, formal critiques, public exposure, established hierarchies of prize categories and opportunities for acquisition. In a proposal sent to the Congress of Deputies by the painter, José Galofré y Coma, the need for establishing such an exhibition was strongly argued. His proposition was accepted and forwarded to Agustín Esteban Collantes  [ es ], the Minister of Development. After the questions of organization and funding had been settled, it was presented to the Royal Family for final approval.

The exhibition was maintained in largely the same form until the 1920s, although the frequency became erratic; sometimes every two years, sometimes every three. There were also longer intervals due to political and social disruptions; notably the Spanish Civil War.

The original concepts and criteria slowly became obsolete, and the last exhibition was held in 1968.

Prizes and winners

Christopher Columbus in the Convent of La Rabida, Eduardo Cano, 1856 Eduardo Cano - Cristobal Colon en el convento de la Rabida.jpg
Christopher Columbus in the Convent of La Rábida, Eduardo Cano, 1856
View of the Surroundings of the Monasterio de Piedra, Carlos de Haes, 1858 Carlos de Haes View near Monasterio de Piedra.jpg
View of the Surroundings of the Monasterio de Piedra, Carlos de Haes, 1858
The Last Moments of Fernando IV, the Summoned, Jose Casado del Alisal, 1860 Ultimos momentos del rey Fernando IV de Castilla y Leon.jpg
The Last Moments of Fernando IV, the Summoned, José Casado del Alisal, 1860
The Comuneros, Padilla, Bravo and Maldonado on the Scaffold, Antonio Gisbert, 1860 Comuneros.jpg
The Comuneros, Padilla, Bravo and Maldonado on the Scaffold, Antonio Gisbert, 1860
The First Landing of Christopher Columbus in America, Dioscoro Puebla, 1862 Desembarco de Colon de Dioscoro Puebla.jpg
The First Landing of Christopher Columbus in America, Dióscoro Puebla, 1862
Isabelle the Catholic Dictating her Will and Testament, Eduardo Rosales, 1864 Dona Isabel la Catolica dictando su testamento (Rosales).jpg
Isabelle the Catholic Dictating her Will and Testament, Eduardo Rosales, 1864
The Fusillades of May Third on the Hill of Principe Pio, Vicente Palmaroli, 1871 El tres de mayo de 1808.jpg
The Fusillades of May Third on the Hill of Príncipe Pío, Vicente Palmaroli, 1871
The Education of Prince Don Juan, Salvador Martinez Cubells, 1878 Educacion del principe don Juan 1877 Martinez Cubells.jpg
The Education of Prince Don Juan, Salvador Martínez Cubells, 1878
Othello and Desdemona, Antonio Munoz Degrain, 1881 Oteloydesdemona MunozDegrain.jpg
Othello and Desdemona, Antonio Muñoz Degrain, 1881
Spoliarium, Juan Luna, 1884 Spolarium.jpg
Spoliarium, Juan Luna, 1884
Invasion of the Barbarians, Ulpiano Checa, 1887 Ulpiano Checa La invasion de los barbaros.jpg
Invasion of the Barbarians, Ulpiano Checa, 1887
A Misfortune, Jose Jimenez Aranda, 1890 Una desgracia Jose Jimenez Aranda (version grande).jpg
A Misfortune, José Jiménez Aranda, 1890
Cisneros, Founder of the Hospital of Illescas, Alejandro Ferrant, 1892 Alejandro Ferrant (1892) Cardenal Cisneros. Hospital de la Caridad de Illescas.jpg
Cisneros, Founder of the Hospital of Illescas, Alejandro Ferrant, 1892
And They Still Say that Fish is Expensive!, Joaquin Sorolla, 1895 !Aun dicen que el pescado es caro!.jpg
And They Still Say that Fish is Expensive!, Joaquín Sorolla, 1895
The Charge, Ramon Casas, 1904 Ramon Casas Charge.jpg
The Charge, Ramon Casas, 1904
The Gypsy Muse, Julio Romero de Torres, 1908 La musa gitana 1907 Julio Romero de Torres.jpg
The Gypsy Muse, Julio Romero de Torres, 1908
Fruits, Julia Alcayde y Montoya, 1911 Julia Alcayde y Montoya - Fruits, 1911.jpg
Fruits, Julia Alcayde y Montoya, 1911
Floreal, Jose Pinazo Martinez, 1915 Jose Pinazo Martinez - Floreal, 1915.jpg
Floreal, José Pinazo Martínez, 1915

The prizes awarded were "First Class", "Second Class", "Third Class" and "Honorable Mention". In the painting category, anywhere from 300 to 500 works might be entered. The other categories rarely exceeded 10% of that.

Winners of the First Class medal in the Painting category

After that time, the exhibitions became more sporadic and perfunctory, and information regarding the results is not readily available.

Related Research Articles

The National Prize for Arts and Sciences is awarded annually by the Government of Mexico in six categories. It is part of the Mexican Honours System and was established in 1945. The prize is a gold medal and 520,000 pesos.

The Alfonso Reyes International Prize is a Mexican award given for meritorious lifetime contributions to literary research and criticism. It was founded in 1972 by the economist turned author/critic, Francisco Zendejas and was named in honor of Alfonso Reyes, a well-known Mexican literary critic, author and poet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vicente Palmaroli</span> Spanish painter (1834–1896)

Vicente Palmaroli González was a Spanish portrait and genre painter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goya Museum</span>

The Goya Museum is an art museum located in Castres, France. The museum was originally established in 1840 and was named after the Spanish painter Francisco Goya since it specialised in hispanic art from 1947.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salvador Martínez Cubells</span> Spanish painter

Salvador Martínez Cubells was a Spanish painter and art restorer, who specialized in history painting and Costumbrismo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eugenio Hermoso</span> Spanish painter (1883–1963)

Eugenio Hermoso Martínez was a Spanish painter active in Badajoz. He was a professor of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, and a contemporary of Benito Arias Montano and Juan Bravo Murillo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benet Mercadé</span> Spanish painter

Benet Mercadé i Fàbrega, in Spanish: Benito Mercadé y Fábregas was a Catalan painter of portraits and historical scenes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joaquín Agrasot</span> Spanish painter

Joaquín Agrasot y Juan was a Spanish painter of the Realistic style who produced many works in the Costumbrismo genre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">José Joaquín Fabregat</span>

José Joaquín Fabregat was an engraver and cartoonist of the New Spain who was born in Torreblanca, in the province of Castelló, and began his studies in the Academy of San Carlos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vicente Castell</span> Spanish painter

Vicente Castell Doménech was a Spanish painter in the costumbrista style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francisco Jover y Casanova</span> Spanish painter

Francisco Jover y Casanova was a Spanish painter of historical scenes and portraits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pablo Gonzalvo</span>

Pablo Gonzalvo y Pérez was a Spanish painter who specialized in urban landscapes and what are sometimes referred to as interior portraits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francisco Javier Amérigo</span>

Francisco Javier Amérigo y Aparici was a Spanish painter who specialized in historical scenes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enrique Martínez Cubells</span> Spanish painter (1874–1947)

Enrique Martínez Cubells y Ruiz Diosayuda was a Spanish painter. He specialized in genre scenes of village life, with a focus on the fishing community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fernando Cabrera Cantó</span>

Fernando Cabrera Cantó (1866–1937) was a Spanish painter and sculptor; whose themes ranged from the cheerful and satiric to the darkly morbid. He also did landscapes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">José Pinazo Martínez</span> Spanish painter (1879–1933)

José Pinazo Martínez was a Spanish painter, primarily known for portraits and still-lifes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Economy and Finance (Venezuela)</span>

The Ministry of Economy and Finance is a ministry of the government of Venezuela with similar portfolios dating back to 1810 with the creation of a tax office. When Gran Colombia was dissolved and Venezuela assumed its independence, the Ministry of Finance was created in 1830 when General José Antonio Páez commissioned the establishment of the public business office to three Secretariats of State: Interior, Justice and Police, War and Navy, Finance, and Foreign Relations. The current minister has been Delcy Rodríguez since September 2020.

References

  1. Jesús Gutiérrez Burón, Exposiciones nacionales de Bellas Artes, Historia 16, Cuadernos de arte español, 1992, ISBN   978-84-7679-199-8

Further reading