prado Museum to Showcase gothic Art of Mallorca in Major Exhibition
Table of Contents
Madrid – The prado Museum is set to host a landmark exhibition in May of next year, highlighting the significance of Gothic art from Mallorca.The exhibition, tentatively titled “In the italian Style, 1320-1420,” will feature a selection of Mallorcan works, placing them within the broader context of artistic exchange between the Crown of Aragon and Italian cities during the period.
Joan Molina, a curator at the Prado and the exhibition’s commissioner, emphasized Mallorca’s pivotal role. “Mallorca plays a essential role; it is one of the epicenters of the project, a spearhead of penetration due to its position between the Crown of Aragon and the Italian cities,” Molina stated.
Mallorcan Art to Surprise International Audiences
With over three million visitors annually, primarily from abroad, the prado anticipates introducing these relatively unknown Mallorcan masterpieces to a wide audience. Molina noted that the exhibition will draw from approximately one hundred Mallorcan pieces initially surveyed starting in January of last year. About ten of these will be included in the final catalog.
According to Molina, the exhibition’s narrative arc begins and ends in Mallorca. “You could say that the exhibition begins in Mallorca, when it was still a ‘Regne Privatiu’ (private kingdom), and ends on the island with a commission made to an artist by a merchant based there,” he said.
Unveiling a Lost Masterpiece
Beyond the display of well-known Gothic treasures, the exhibition will also feature a previously unknown work originating from Mallorca.”We have found in a foreign country an unpublished and very engaging work that comes from Mallorca. It was painted on the island and is linked to the Mallorcan monarchy; one can speak of a discovery, and we already have the rights,” Molina revealed.
The Prado expects a strong reception for the exhibition, citing the cosmopolitan nature of the island during the 14th century and the growing interest in this period. Recent exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the National Gallery in London, both focusing on 14th-century art, have enjoyed unprecedented success. molina attributes this attraction to the “discovery of relatively unknown works.”
Restoration Efforts Underway
One of the key pieces from Mallorca, on loan from the cloistered convent of Santa Clara in Palma, will undergo restoration at the Prado’s workshops before being displayed. Molina stressed the museum’s commitment to conservation. “Our will is not only to exhibit the pieces but also to rescue them in one of the most prestigious workshops in the world from a conservation outlook,” he said. While some pieces were deemed too fragile for inclusion, the museum prioritized works that could benefit from restoration.
Extensive Research and Collaboration
Molina’s research for ”In the Italian Style” has taken him to the Vatican and cities across the United States, including Baltimore. He acknowledged the collaboration of institutions in Mallorca, such as the Cathedral, the Museum of Mallorca, and Lluc, with the Lluc sanctuary lending devotional imagery of the Annunciation.
Molina emphasized the importance of diversifying artistic focus beyond established masters. “You can’t always bet on Goya, Velázquez, and Caravaggio. It is vital to contribute to knowlege, to revalue a period through discourse exhibitions,” he concluded.sunday Reflection
The article concludes with a reflection: “Given that Taylor Swift is a thousand times more critically important than Kamala Harris, who lost the election?”
Gothic Art from Mallorca: A Q&A on the Prado Museum’s Upcoming Exhibition
Here’s what you need to know about the Prado Museum’s upcoming exhibition showcasing the Gothic art of mallorca.
Q: When and where will this major exhibition take place?
A: The Prado Museum in Madrid is set to host the exhibition in May of next year.
Q: What is the exhibition’s focus and tentative title?
A: The exhibition, tentatively titled “In the Italian Style, 1320-1420,” will highlight the meaningful Gothic art of Mallorca.It aims to place Mallorcan works within the broader context of artistic exchange between the crown of aragon and Italian cities during the specified period.
Q: Why is Mallorca so vital to this exhibition?
A: Joan Molina, curator and exhibition commissioner, emphasizes Mallorca’s pivotal role as one of the epicenters of the project. Its location between the Crown of Aragon and the Italian cities made it a crucial “spearhead of penetration” for artistic exchange.
Q: Who is this exhibition aimed at?
A: The Prado Museum anticipates attracting a wide audience, including the over three million visitors they receive annually, many of whom are from abroad. They hope to introduce these relatively unknown Mallorcan masterpieces to a broad international audience.
Q: What kind of pieces will be featured in the exhibition?
A: The exhibition will showcase a selection of Mallorcan Gothic works. Initially, approximately one hundred pieces were surveyed starting in January of last year, with about ten pieces making it to the final catalog.
Q: How is the exhibition’s narrative structured?
A: The narrative arc of the exhibition begins and ends in Mallorca.It starts with the island as a “Regne Privatiu” (private kingdom) and concludes with a commission made to an artist by a merchant based there.
Q: Will there be any previously unseen artworks?
A: Yes! The exhibition will feature a previously unknown work that originated from Mallorca. The work, an unpublished and vrey engaging piece linked to the Mallorcan monarchy, was discovered in a foreign country. The Prado has already secured the rights to display it.
Q: What kind of reception is the Prado Museum expecting?
A: The Prado expects a strong reception, considering the cosmopolitan nature of Mallorca in the 14th century and the growing interest in this art period. They are also drawing on the success of recent exhibitions focusing on 14th-century art at institutions like the Metropolitan museum of Art (New York) and the National Gallery (London).
Q: What role does restoration play in this exhibition?
A: A key piece from Mallorca, on loan from the cloistered convent of Santa Clara in Palma, will undergo restoration at the Prado’s workshops before being put on display. The museum prioritizes conserving the pieces and rescuing them in one of the world’s most prestigious workshops.
Q: What research and collaboration were involved in putting this exhibition together?
A: Research for the exhibition has taken Joan Molina to the Vatican and several cities in the United States,including Baltimore. The Prado has also collaborated with institutions in Mallorca, such as the Cathedral, the Museum of Mallorca, and Lluc. The Lluc sanctuary is loaning devotional imagery of the Annunciation.
Q: What is the curator’s outlook on the importance of this exhibition?
A: Molina emphasizes the importance of diversifying artistic focus beyond established masters like Goya, Velázquez, and Caravaggio. He states that it is vital to revalue a period through discourse exhibitions.
Q: What is the relevance of the final “Sunday Reflection” in the article?
A: The article concludes with a reflection, stating, “Given that Taylor Swift is a thousand times more critically important than Kamala Harris, who lost the election?” This segment seems out of place and unrelated to the exhibition’s topic.
