In the world of art, there are very few painters whose lives have remained in obscurity for a long time as Francisco de Zurbarán, the eminent painter of the Apothesis of St. Thomas Aquinas. Despite being unrecognized by his peers, constrained to a meager salary, and branded simply as an imitator of Caravaggio though he never even had the chance to explore his style, Francisco de Zurbarán emerged as one of Spain’s most extraordinary artists of his time. The first time he was recognized for his work was in 1905 through an exhibition in Madrid, Spain. For the celebration of his life and works, the National Gallery of London, partnered with the Musée du Louvre, Paris, and the Art Institute of Chicago, will host his first major monographic exhibition in the UK from 2.05.2025 to 23.08.2026.
Daniel Sobrino Ralston, the National Gallery’s CEEH (Centro de Estudios Europa Hispánica) Associate Curator of Spanish Paintings, said,
“We are excited to present the most comprehensive survey of Zurbarán’s work ever seen in Britain, bringing together exceptional loans from across the UK, Europe and the United States. This exhibition offers new insights on one of the great artists of the Baroque era, whose visionary paintings have shaped our understanding of 17th-century Spain.”
Zurbarán was one of the leading painters of 17th-century Spain along with Diego Velázquez (1599–1660) and Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617–1682). His work usually included stunning life-size depictions of saints, soaring altarpieces, and contemplative still-lifes, that are celebrated for their naturalism, directness, and deep emotional power.
This exhibition will be the first dedicated presentation of the artist’s paintings at the National Gallery since 1994 when the series of ‘Jacob and his Twelve Sons’ from Auckland Castle was shown in the Sunley Room. Besides, several other works by Zurbarán were also featured in The Sacred Made Real, an exhibition held in 2009–10. However, this exhibition is significant as it will display almost 50 paintings in chronological and iconographic order in the artist’s career.
The event will unite some of the exceptional works from the National Gallery including Saint Margaret of Antioch, A Cup of Water and a Rose, and Juan de Zurbarán’s Still Life With Lemons in a Wicker Basket with the Musée du Louvre’s Saint Bonaventure on His Bier’ and ‘Saint Apollonia’ and the Art Institute of Chicago’s The Crucifixion’, ‘Saint Romanus of Antioch’ and ‘Saint Barulas’ and Juan de Zurbarán’s ‘Flowers and Fruit in a Chinese Bowl.’ In addition to this event, the exhibition will travel between two partner museums from October 2026 and June 2027. The Musée du Louvre exhibition of Zurbarán’s works will be on view from 7 October 2026 to 25 January 2027, and the exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago will take place from 28 February until 20 June 2027.
Zurbarán spent most of his life in Seville, the then-richest city in Europe whose maritime links to America made it a hub of global trade. He painted primarily for the city’s vast number of religious orders and private patrons like the King of Spain. Being an acute observation of reality, his still-life paintings and works have a strikingly vivid appearance. Imogen Tedbury, Curator of Later Italian, Spanish and French Paintings (maternity cover), said,
“Zurbarán is an extraordinary artist, whose work stakes a bold claim for the power of painting, both then and now. We are thrilled to be collaborating with the Art Institute of Chicago and the Musee du Louvre to bring his greatest paintings together in this exceptional presentation of his expansive career.”
The exhibition is the central point to witness the Spanish art and culture of the 17th century.
Featured Image: Agnus Dei, Francisco de Zurbarán, 1635 – 1640 © Photographic Archive Museo Nacional del Prado.
Related Reads.
