Exhibitions: Spanish Painting

August 8, 1935: "Leading art museums and private collectors are cooperating with the Brooklyn Museum by lending celebrated Spanish paintings for exhibition in the Brooklyn Museum," Philip N. Youtz, Director, announced today. "This exhibition of Spanish painting will inaugurate the new main entrance hall and special exhibition galleries on the first floor, which will be opened with a private view on Friday, October 4th, and opened to the public the following day.

"The Spanish paintings lent to the Museum for this opening will include "Don Balthazar Carlos and Dwarf” by Velasquez, “Geographer" by Ribera, and “Madonna and Child” of the 15th century from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; “Purification of the Temple” by Jill Greco, from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts; “Self Portrait” by Goya, and "Portrait of a Man" by Murillo. from The City Art Museum, St. Louis; "Cruxifixion with View of Toledo" by El Greco, from the Cincinnati Art Museum; "Annunciation" by Juan de Burgos, from the Fogg Art Museum, and "St. Christopher”, Castilian or Aragonese School, 15th Century from the Edward Forbes Collection, Fogg Art Museum; "St. Veronica's Veil by El Greco, from the collection of Theodor Szarvas, "Princess de la Pez" by Goya, from the collection of Mrs. J. Watson Webb; "The Old Man" by Ribera and “Portrait of a Girl" by Zurbaran, from the Detroit Institute; "Infanta Margarita" by Muttinez del Mazo, from the collection of John Mortimer Schiff; "Christ Among the Doctors", and “The Marriage at Cana”, two 15th Century altar panels from the collection of Dr. Preston Satterwhite; “Head of a Men” by El Greco, from the collection of Dr. F. H. Hirshland; "The Martyrdom of St. Catherine", 15th Century; "Baptism of Christ” and "St. John,” double panel, 15th Century, “The Judgment” 15th century panel, from the Gallery of Fine Arts, Yale University; "Adoration of the Shepherds" by El Greco, from the collection of George Blumenthal; two Catalonian frescos, from the collection of Joseph Brummer; "Self Portrait" by Velasquez and "Don Manuel Osorio” by Goya, from the collection of Jules S. Bache. Negotiations are in progress for the loan of other celebrated Spanish paintings.

“An exhibition of Spanish painting seems appropriate for the opening of the new entrance hall at the Brooklyn Museum since the permanent collections which will be shown on the first floor of the Museum consist largely of the beautiful aboriginal art of Spanish America.”

Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1931 - 1936. 07-09_1935, 080. View Original

August 27, 1935: The Brooklyn Museum has secured the loan of seven more paintings by Domenico Theotocopoli (El Greco) as well as paintings by Velasquez, Alonzo Cano, Goya, Jaime Huguet and unknown artists of XVth and XVIth century religious painting. These paintings will be included in the exhibition of Spanish painting which will be installed in the new ground floor entrance hall and special exhibition galleries, opening to the public on October 5th, and to members and guests of the Museum at a reception on the evening of October 4th. The additional loans for this exhibition are from the collections of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph M. Coe, Maurice Harris in the Pennsylvania Museum of Art, The William Rockhill Nelson Gallery of Art of Kansas City, M. Knoedler and Company and French and Company. Mr. Frederick A. Sweet, Assistant Curator of Renaissance Art, is in charge of the exhibition.

The paintings for the loan of which Mr. Sweet has just completed negotiations are: from Mrs. Ralph M. Coe, “The Baptism of St. Mar tin of Tours, “The Mass of St. Martin of Tours," and "The Entombment and Ascension of St. Martin of Tours,” by Jaime Huguet, from Mr. Ralph M. Coe, “The Annunciation” by El Greco; from Maurice Harris, “St. Jerome,” by El Greco and "The Head of a Saint” by Goya; from the Pennsylvania Museum of Art, “Crucifixion,” “Pieta,” and “Portrait of a Lady" by El Greco; from the William Rockhill Nelson Gallery of Art, “St. Lawrence" by Alonzo Cano and “St. Peter" by Velasquez; from M. Knoedler and Co., “The Apparition of the Virgin” and “The Visitation of the Virgin" by El Greco; and from French and Company, one of eight panels of a XVth Century Hispano-Flemish altar-piece, a large XVIth Century altar-piece, two wings of a triptych, and a panel of the Madonna and Child.

Among the paintings are two fine examples showing different phases of El Greco's art. One of these is “The Apparition of the Virgin to St. Dominic” a vertical panel showing St. Dominic clad in the flowing robe of the Dominican order kneeling on a rich mosaic pavement in a lofty church. The Virgin appears in an attitude more humane and benevolent than is customary in El Greco's work or for that matter in Spanish painting as a whole. The picture portrays a relation based on love and reverence rather than on awe. The other, “The Visitation of the Virgin," shows a simpler and more impressionistic phase of El Greco’s technique. The severely simple background is relieved only by a classical doorway. The figures of Mary and Elizabeth clad in flowing robes are used as studies in light and dark. The figures could be those of any Roman matrons. In this piece there is none of that mystical rapture found in the St. Dominic. It is a fine example in which to study El Greco's impressionistic technique.

Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1931 - 1936. 07-09_1935, 091-2. View Original 1 . View Original 2

September 19, 1935: Fifty eight Spanish paintings are to be included in the Exhibition of Spanish Paintings which will occupy the new special exhibition galleries during the month of October. The exhibition will be open to the public on Saturday, October 5. There will be a reception and private view for members and guests of the Museum on the evening of the fourth. Leading museums and private collectors have cooperated in lending paintings which comprise the exhibition. The lenders are Jules Bache, George Blumenthal, Eugen Boross, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph M. Coe, Edward Waldo Forbes, George F. Harding, Dr. F. H. Hirschland, Duncan Phillips, Mrs. Frederic B. Pratt, Dr. Preston Pope Scatterwhite, John Martimer Schiff, Theodor Szvaras, Mrs. William R. Timken, Mrs. J. Watson Webb, Cincinnati Art Museum, City Art Museum of St. Louis; Detroit Institute of Arts, Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, Gallery of Fine Arts, Yale University; Metropolitan Museum of Art, Minneapolis Institute of Arts; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Pennsylvania Museum of Art; Toledo Museum of Fine Arts; Wadsworth Athenaeum, Hartford; William Rockhill Nelson Gallery of Art; Worcester Art Museum; Joseph Brummer, Durlacher Brothers, Sir Joseph Duveen, French Co. and Co., Maurice Harris (of London), M. Knoedler and Co.

The complete list of paintings to be shown follows: “St. Catherine," Catalonian - XIIIth Century, lent by Joseph Rummer, "Three Saints," Catalonian - XIlIth Century, lent by Joseph Brummer, "The Virgin and St. Anne," Catalonian School - c. 1400, lent by Durlacher Brothers, “The Annunciation” Juan de Burgos, XVth Century, lent by the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University; "St. Christopher," Catalonian or Aragonese - c. 1490, lent by Edward Waldo Forbes; "Marriage at Cana," Spanish, XVth Century, lent by Dr. Preston Pope Satterwhite; “Christ Among the Doctors," Spanish, XVth Century, lent by Dr. Preston Pope Satterwhite; "The Circumcision," Spanish, XVth Century, lent by French and Co., Inc.; “Madonna,” Spanish, XVth Century, lent by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; “The Martyrdom of St. Catherine,” Spanish, XVth Century, lent by the Gallery of Fine Arts, Yale University; “St. Sebastian and St. Fabian,” Aragonese School, early XVIth Century, lent by French and Co.; “Coronation of the Virgin,” Aragonese School, XVth Century, lent by French and Co., Inc., "St. Bartholomew," Spanish, XVth Century, lent by the Worcester Art Museum; "The Adoration of the Magi," Lo Fillo del Maestro Rodrigo, late XVth Century, lent by Duveen Brothers; "The Baptism of St. Martin of Tours,” Jaime Huguet - XVth Century, lent by Mrs. Ralph M. Coe; "Mass of St. Martin of Tours," Jaime Huguet, XVth Century, lent by Mrs. Ralph M. Coe, "Entombment and Ascension of St. Martin of Tours" Jaime Huguet, XVth Century, lent by Mrs. Ralph M. Coe; Altar Piece, Spanish, XVIth Century, lent by French and Co., Inc.; "St. Lawrence," Alonzo Cano -1601-1667, lent by the William Rockhill Nelson Gallery of 1st; "Princesa de la Paz," Francisco Jose de Goya y Lucientes - 1746-1828, lent by Mrs. J. Watson Webb; "Self Portrait" Francisco Jose de Goya y Lucientes - 1746-1828, lent by the City Art Museum of St. Louis; “Don Manuel Osorio," Francisco Jose de Goya y Lucientes - 1746-1828, lent by Jules Bache; "Portrait of Lady," Francisco Jose de Goya y Lucientes -1746-1828, lent by Mrs. William R. Timken, "Purification of the Temple," El Greco (Domenico Theotocopuli) c.1548-1614, lent by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts; "Gossiping Women," Francisco Jose de Goya y Lucientes, lent by the Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford; "Crucifixion," El Greco (Domenico Theotocopuli) c. 1548-1614, lent by the Cincinnati Art Museum;  "St. Veronica's Veil," El Greco, lent by Theodor Szyaras; "Head of Man,” El Greco, lent by Dr. F. H. Hirschland; "The Adoration of the Shepherds," El Greco lent by George Blumenthal; "Apparition of the Virgin," El Greco, lent by M. Knoedler and Co.;"Visitation of the Virgin," El Greco, lent by M. Knoedler and Co.; "Crucifixion," El Greco, lent by the Pennsylvania Museum of Art, from the John G. Johnson Art Collection, "Pieta" EI Greco, lent by the Pennsylvania Museum of Art from the John G. Johnson Art Collection; “Portrait of Lady," El Greco, lent by the Pennsy1vania Museum of Art, from the John G. Johnson Art Collection; “Annunciation," El Greco, lent by Mr. Ralph M. Coe; "Angel Appearing to the Magdalen," El Greco, lent by Maurice Harris; "The Repentant Peter,” El Greco, lent by Duncan Phillips, "The Magdalen" EI Greco, lent by the Worcester Art Museum; "Cardinal Don Fernando Nino de Guevera,” El Greco, lent by the Metropolitan Museum of Art; "View of Toledo," El Greco, lent by the Metropolitan Museum of Art; "Infanta Margarita," Juan Bautisto Martinez del Mazo -1612-1667, lent by John Mortimer Schiff; "Infanta Margarita,” Juan Bautista Martinez del Mazo, lent by Mrs. Frederic B. Pratt; "Pieta,” Luis de Morales, c. 1517-1586, lent by George Harding; "Portrait," Bartolome Estaban Murillo -1618-1682, lent by the City Art Museum of St. Louis; "Head of Christ,” Bartolome Estaban Murillo, lent by Eugen Boross; Landscape with Jacob and Rachel," Bartolome Estaban Murillo, lent by Eugene Boross; "The Old Man," JUSGp6 de Ribera. (La Spngnolctto) 1591-1652, lent by tho Detroit Institute of Arts; "The Geographer,” Jusepe de Ribera, lent by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; “St. Andrew," Jusepe de Ribera, lent by Maurice Harris; “Portrait of a Musician," Jusepe de Ribera, lent by the Toledo Museum of Arts from the Edward Drummond Libbey Collection; “Don Balthazar Carlos and his Dwarf," Diego Rodriquez de Silva y Velasquez -1599-1660, lent by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; "Self Portrait," Diego Rodriquez de Silva y Velasquez, lent by Jules Bache "St. Peter,” Diego Rodriquez de Silva y Velasquez - 1599-1660, lent by the William Rockhill Nelson Gallery of Art, Kansas City, Missouri, "Portrait of a Girl," Francisco de Zurbaran -1598-1664, lent by the Detroit Institute of Arts; "St. Jerome," Francisco de Zurbaran, lent by Maurice Harris; and "Virgin and Child," Spanish, XIIIth Century, lent by Durlacher Brothers. 

Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1931 - 1936. 10-12_1935, 096-8. View Original 1 . View Original 2 . View Original 3

October 4, 1935: Among those present at the opening of the new entrance hall and the exhibition of Spanish Paintings at the Brooklyn Museum on Friday, October 4th at 8:30 were:

Mr. and Mrs. Frederic B. Pratt
Miss Short
Miss Manning (of Frick Gallery)
Mr. and Mrs. Carl O. Schniewind
Miss Georgia Giddings
Mr. and Mrs. George S. Frank
Miss Adele Frank
Mr. and Mrs. Jennewein
Mr. and Mrs. Herman De Wetter
Mr. and Mrs. James Allen
Mr. and Mrs. Julian Gustafson
Mr. and Mrs. Smith (Mrs. Smith was Miss Mary De Wetter)
Mrs. Grant H. Code
Mr. Grant H. Code, Jr.
Mrs. Ruby Warren Newby
Mr. Richmond B. Williams
Mrs. E. P. Hough
Mr. and Mrs. Max Jaffe
Prof. and Mrs. Roscoe C.E. Brown
Miss Elizabeth Haynes
Mrs. Edward Haynes
Mr. Edward C. Blum
Miss Betty Stone
Mrs. E. P. Huff
Miss Edna Voight
Miss Alexandrina Harris
Mr. Edward Helwig
Mrs. Devereaux Fay
Mrs. Ralph Root
<strike>Mr. Hans Borendirk</strike>
Mr. and Mrs. Briggs Mr. Sigvard Mohn
Mr. and Mrs. William Lescaze
Mrs. Harding (International Art)
Mr. Henry W. Kent
Mrs. Polly Pettit
Mrs. Jeanette Emerich
Pierre Montano
Mr. Sarah Ivins
Mary Emerson Hurlbert
Mr. and Mrs. St. Clair Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Milton Horn
Mr. and Mrs. Gaston Lachaise
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Sprackling
Mr. and Mrs. Eastman
Dr. Andrewes W. Earle
Dr. Denbigh
Mr. Lawson Brown
Mr. M. Mandel Schackne
Rev. John H. Lathrop
Mr. Robert Moses
Mr. Grover Whalen
Mr. H. V. Kaltenborn
Mr. Philip A. Benson
Senor Don Miguel Lopez Pumarejo
Mr. Bernard Davis
Mrs. Mary Childs Draper
Mrs. Edward C. Blum
Mr. and Mrs. Dean C. Osborne
Mrs. William H. Good
Mr. and Mrs. Henry S. Francis
Mr. Percy Straus
Mrs. Henry Breckinridge
Mrs. Travis Whitney
Mr. and Mrs. Archer Huntington
Miss Edna Voight
Miss Anna B. Gallup
General Wingate
Miss Minnie E. Hopkins
Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Hopkins
Rev. Phillips Packer Elliot
Mr. and Mrs. Fahim Kouchakji
Dr. Lou Kennedy
Dr. Louise Gowanloch
Mr. John Hines
Mr. and Mrs. Krehbiel
Mr. Walter Crittenden
Mrs. Rebecca Hooper Eastman
Rene D'Harnoncourt
Dr. Warren Smadbeck
Mr. Ernest Killman
Miss Elodie Courter
Dr. Walter W. S. Cook
Mons Breidvik
Mr. and Mrs. Philip N. Youtz
Hardye Scholle
Mrs. Holian
Mr. Taggart
Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Throckmorton
Allan Wolf
B. P. Candela
Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Sweet
Mr. Petter
Miss Krehbiel
Miss Minnie Gould
Miss Cynthia Root

Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1931 - 1936. 10-12_1935, 102. View Original

November 14, 1935: In his report to the Governing Committee of the Brooklyn Museums meeting November 13, the Director, Mr. Philip N. Youtz emphasized three aspects of current activity at the Brooklyn Central Museum; an unusual series of exhibitions; further progress in the reconditioning and remodeling of the building and grounds, and public interest in the new educational program.

An exhibition of mediaeval objects will open on December 6 inaugurating the Museum’s new Gallery of Mediaeval Art. One entire gallery will be devoted to Byzantine art. Approximately 100,000 persons visited the exhibition of Spanish paintings installed by the Department of Renaissance Art. The Department of Contemporary Art has installed an exhibition throughout November. In the some department the exhibition of oil paintings by living artists has been followed by a collection of paintings and drawings of natural history objects, demonstrating the artistic and exhibition value of scientific illustration. This in turn will be followed by an exhibition of humor in art. The Curator of Prints, Mr. Carl O. Schniewind, who recently succeeded Miss Susan A. Hutchinson, has arranged the first comprehensive; exhibition of the prints of Henri Matisse, now on view.

The Education Office of the Museum reports can attendance of 11,320, in eight classes and an attendance of 25,680 at showings of moving pictures. There has been an unusually heavy demand this year for loan of films. The educational work for adults including discussion groups, work with teachers, and talks on the Spanish exhibition. Total attendance during October 91,013.

The new entrance and entrance hall have proved a hospitable and practical improvement. Large crowds can be handled without congestion and the hall makes a first impression of dignity. It is well adapted for exhibition material. Trustees and members of the staff of other museums have commented on the wel1 diffused light and the simplicity and restraint of the entire treatment. The public has made heavy use of the new information and sales desk. The edition of the catalogue of Spanish paintings has been practically exhausted. The October Quarterly, designed as an informal handbook of the Galleries of Prehistoric and Primitive art, sold out in on edition larger than usual and has been reprinted. Orders for photographs of objects in the museum collection have been heavy.

Brooklyn Museum Archives. Records of the Department of Public Information. Press releases, 1931 - 1936. 10-12_1935, 113. View Original