Installation complete for new show

By Carrie Sanger

The Meadows Museum, SMU, has announced September 20th as the opening date of a major exhibition exploring the art and history of the Spanish Renaissance sculptor Alonso Berruguete (c. 1488–1561), whose dramatic style—reflecting the more than ten years he spent in Italy in the early years of his career—revolutionized the arts of Spain. Alonso Berruguete: First Sculptor of Renaissance Spain is the first exhibition devoted to the artist to be presented outside Spain. Originally scheduled to open in March, the exhibition was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Organized by the Meadows Museum and the National Gallery of Art, Washington, in collaboration with the Museo Nacional de Escultura, Valladolid, Spain, the exhibition includes some 45 paintings, sculptures, and works on paper drawn from a range of international collections. In tandem with Berruguete’s work, the Meadows is also presenting an exhibition of photographs — originally from the Archivo Mas and now in the holdings of the museum — that provide the rare opportunity to see some of Berruguete’s larger commissions in their original locations. Berruguete Through the Lens: Photographs from a Barcelona Archive includes 31 black-and-white images from the early 20th century that reflect the work of Spaniards to create and preserve a visual record of Spain’s artistic patrimony. Both exhibitions will be on view through January 10, 2021.

“We are thrilled that this exhibition is moving ahead despite delays related to the pandemic. This is an outstanding opportunity to introduce American audiences to Alonso Berruguete, one of Spain’s most important artists, but someone whose work is not well known in the U.S.,” said Mark A. Roglán, the Linda P. and William A. Custard director of the Meadows Museum and centennial chair in the Meadows School of the Arts, SMU. “Taken together, these exhibitions provide parallel perspectives and opportunities for viewers, both to experience Berruguete’s art in person and, through the Archivo Mas photographs, to get a clearer impression of the artist’s works as they might have been when he first installed them. Organizing a major international loan exhibition during this time has been challenging.”

For tickets, visit 

meadowsmuseumdallas.org.