Past Exhibitions

 

Royal Splendor in the Enlightenment


See image captions below

Royal Splendor is the world's first major exhibition to showcase the exceptional art collection of King Charles IV of Spain (1748-1819). The exhibition, for which the Meadows Museum will be the exclusive venue outside of Spain, offers visitors the opportunity to discover for the first time the exquisite taste of Charles IV, who was one of the most important collectors both of his time and in the history of the Spanish monarchy. His interests were not only refined, but extremely varied, as evidenced in the innumerable paintings, drawings, engravings, sculptures, books, coins and musical instruments he collected by both contemporaneous and earlier artists.

Over 80 works will be featured in the exhibition, most of which have never before traveled to the U.S. Charles IV and his wife, Queen Maria Luisa, reigned from 1788 to 1808 (when they were forced into exile by Napoleon), at the end of the Enlightenment period, and the collection includes some of the finest examples of art styles of the day, from Rococo paintings to a stunning Neoclassical dessert centerpiece of semi-precious stones, lapis lazuli, gilded bronze and enamel. Other highlights include the queen's ceremonial throne with its 18-foot-tall canopy, an elaborate sedan chair in which she was carried by footmen, a gilded bronze, porcelain and enamel bird cage clock, and a shotgun of wood, steel, gold and silver belonging to the king, an avid hunter. Also included are works by Francisco de Goya, the first court painter under Charles IV. The exhibition, which will be shown in the Jake and Nancy Hamon Galleries, will be accompanied by a scholarly, fully illustrated catalogue in English produced by the Meadows Museum.

This exhibition has been organized by the Meadows Museum and Patrimonio Nacional, and funded by a generous gift from The Meadows Foundation. Additional support has been provided by the Spanish Ministry of Culture, the Spain-USA Foundation, and the Embassy of Spain, Washington, D.C.



Image captions (top row, left to right):


Anonymous, Bird Cage Clock, Gilded bronze, enamels, and porcelain, 47 x 28 x 28 cm. San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Royal Palace, National Heritage, Inv. No. 10032143

Juan Bauzil, Carlos IV from Behind, 1818. Oil on canvas, 28 x 21 cm. El Escorial, Casa de campo del Príncipe, National Heritage, Inv. No. 10033108

Giuseppe Baldrighi, María Luisa Teresa of Parma, 1765. Oil on canvas, 113 x 92 cm. El Pardo, National Heritage, Inv. No. 10069378

Diego Velázquez,Portrait (miniature) of the Count-Duke of Olivares, c. 1638. Oil on paper mounted on wood, 8 x 6.35 cm. National Heritage, Inv. No. 10010142


Manuel Muñoz de Ugena (designer); José López (woodworker); Ramón Melero (guilder), Juan Caraltó, Domingo Gómez de los Ríos, and Lorenzo Moreno (embroiderers), Ceremonial Throne of María Luisa, 1793-1794
Wood, silk, 141 x 80 x 68 cm. Madrid, Royal Palace, National Heritage, Inv. No. 10010311


José de Madrazo, Carlos IV in Rome, c. 1825. Oil on canvas, 114 x 92 cm. Aranjuez, Royal Palace, National Heritage, Inv. No. 10023279

Pedro Cancio (designer & director), Bernardino Pandeavenas (embroiderer), Rufino Arroyo, (lace-maker) & Andrés Ximénez (rug maker), Rug for the Old Seat of Honor in the Royal Chapel of Aranjuez, 1789. Silk, 411 x 407 cm. Madrid, Royal Palace, National Heritage, Inv. No. 10016613

(bottom row, left to right):

Giuseppe Bonito
, Carlos Antonio de Borbón as the Child Hercules, 1748. Oil on canvas, 128.5 x 102.5 cm., El Pardo, Royal Palace, National Heritage, Inv. No. 10024113

Francisco de Goya, Carlos IV, 1789. Oil on canvas, 152.5 x 111.5 cm. Madrid, Royal Academy of History, Inv. No. 76.


Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory (France)
, Pair of Urns, porcelain, porcelain bisque; patinated and gilded bronze, 57 x 26 x 20 cm. El Pardo, Royal Palace, National Heritage, Inv. Nos. 10069668 and 10069669


Royal Workshops,Sedan chair of Queen María Luisa of Parma, 1795. Wood, gilded metal, bronze, velvet and silver, 163 x 78 x 100 cm. Madrid, Royal Palace, National Heritage, Inv. No. 10008050

Back to top


 
HOURS: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Thursday until 9:00 p.m., Sunday 1:00-5:00 p.m. Closed Monday.
ADMISSION:
$10 adults, $8 seniors 65 and over, $4 students. Free for museum members; SMU faculty, staff and students; and children under 12
LOCATION: Meadows Museum, 5900 Bishop Blvd., Dallas, TX 75205
CONTACT US: 214.768.2516 or send us an e-mail.

 

© 2012 Meadows Museum, P.O. Box 750357, Dallas, TX 75275-0357 Site map
Website by My Pawprint Productions