Zurbarán: Jacob and His Twelve Sons, Paintings from Auckland Castle Francisco de Zurbarán
The story of Jacob and his sons inspired Francisco de Zurbarán (1598-1664) to create one of his most important and monumental series, a total of thirteen canvases, with all but one in the collection of a single owner. These life-size figures were created during the 1640s, coinciding with Zurbarán’s artistic maturity and during the time when his workshop was producing works destined for the Spanish territories in the Americas, for which the wealthy city of Seville was the main gateway into Europe.
This exhibition marks the first time these precious holdings will be presented in America, and only the second time in history that they leave Auckland Castle, a unique opportunity to admire a rare assemblage of Zurbarán’s oeuvre. A major study of the series is being undertaken that will include a meticulous technical analysis of all the paintings as well as the publication of a catalogue with essays by a number of specialists.