Spanish Art

Algur H. Meadows developed an interest in art during frequent visits to Spain during the 1950s, when he spent long afternoons at the great Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid. Mr. Meadows began to collect Spanish art, and his collection has grown to be one of the finest outside of Spain. The paintings that comprise the largest part of the collection range from early Renaissance works, painted at the end of the 15th century, to modern works by Picasso and Juan Gris.

The majority of the collection, however, focuses on the Spanish "Golden Age." From the 1550s to nearly the beginning of the 18th century, Spain experienced a flowering of the arts. The Meadows collection contains masterworks by Velázquez, Murillo, Ribera, and many others working during this time.

The Meadows Museum owns several paintings by Francisco de Goya, including Yard with Madmen, a small but powerfully moving piece. These works reveal the development of Goya's style and artistic interests throughout his long and illustrious career. The museum displays a number of examples of 19th century Realist and Impressionist works from Spain as well, including works by Fortuny and Sorolla.

Works on Paper

The Meadows Museum owns complete first edition sets of Goya's four great print series: La Tauromaquia, Los Disparates, Los Caprichos, and Los Desatres de la Guerra. The museum is also home to a number of prints by Picasso, as well as other renowned artists.

The delicate nature of works on paper prohibits their continuous display; therefore, the Meadows' extensive collection remains largely unseen on a daily basis. Susceptibility to light prevents the continuous exhibition of any work on paper. However, prints and drawings can be displayed for short periods under controlled lighting conditions. The Meadows Museum's works on paper are available for study by artists, scholars, and SMU students by appointment.

Sculpture

The Elizabeth Meadows Sculpture collection is a legacy created by Algur H. Meadows to honor his second wife. Since receiving the original gift, the museum has acquired several additional works. Wave by the Spanish artist and architect Santiago Calatrava, is a massive kinetic sculpture of 129 steel bars coated in bronze situated above a black granite reflecting pool at the entrance to the museum on Bishop Boulevard. The plaza surrounding the Meadows Museum holds sculpture by renowned 20th century artists such as David Smith, Henry Moore and Claes Oldenburg, as well as by contemporary sculptors such as James Surls. Important figural sculptures by Rodin, Maillol, and Giacometti are also housed within the museum.

University Art Collection

The Meadows Museum is also responsible for the Southern Methodist University Art Collection. The collection began in 1920 and originally consisted primarily of Texas Regionalist art, including important artists such as Jerry Bywaters. The collection now contains a wide array of artwork donated by alumni and friends of SMU. Many works in the collection are by former students and faculty members who have gone on to distinguished careers in the art world, including David Bates and James Surls. Though the Meadows Museum often displays parts of the collection, it can also be seen in and around buildings all over the SMU campus.

Click here to see highlights of the Meadows Museum Collections.