Published: 20/02/2023
Spain and the Hispanic World, Royal Academy
An American gentleman called Archer Milton Huntingdon became intrigued by art through childhood visits to the National Gallery. Coming from a wealthy railroad family, towards the end of the nineteenth century, he developed a fascination with all things Spanish, from medieval times onwards and he bought: ceramics, silk textiles, Old Master pictures, contemporary ones, silver, maps, illuminated manuscripts, wooden travel boxes....but only when they became available outside Spain.
His vision was extraordinary as at the time, there were only a handful of museums in New York (no Frick, MoMA, the Guggenheim).
This collection forms the Museum of the Hispanic Society in New York. Luckily for us, some of its most important treasures are here while the museum is being renovated.
The Exhibition reflects the great diversity of cultures and religions- from Celtic to Islamic, Jewish and Christian- that shaped and enriched Spanish culture.
While there is Goya, Velázquez, Sorolla and so many other artists, I liked the fact that it is not only the pictures which tell us about four millennia of Spanish culture.
Debbi Clifton
