A total of 14 Baroque pieces by Murillo, Valdés Leal, and Roldán have left the Andalusian capital for the first time in history. They are on display at the Conde Duque Cultural Centre in Madrid until 22 November.
The 14 works, which include paintings and sculptures by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Juan Valdés Leal, and Pedro Roldán, have left the church of the Hospital de la Caridad in Seville for the first time since they were placed there in the 17th century. The exhibition, titled Art and Mercy, can be visited at the Conde Duque Cultural Centre in Madrid until the upcoming 22 November.
The exhibition reproduces the original arrangement of the pieces in the church, respecting the devotional message orchestrated by Miguel de Mañara, founder of the Brotherhood of the Holy Charity. According to the organisation, the relocation has allowed the works to be observed up close, something impossible in their usual location due to the height at which they are placed.
Two hieroglyphs of death
The exhibition begins with a dark and prophetic tone, dominated by the two famous paintings by Valdés Leal: In ictu oculi and Finis gloriae mundi. These allegories of death depict a skeleton with a scythe and a decaying corpse of a high-ranking ecclesiastic, respectively. They serve as a reminder of the brevity of life and the inevitability of divine judgment, according to Mañara's iconographic programme.
After this spectral vision, the journey softens with the works of Murillo. The Sevillian painter contributes seven canvases dedicated to saints who assist the sick with leprosy, plague, and ringworm. The familial atmospheres and warm faces convey a serenity that contrasts with Valdés Leal's warnings, offering a hopeful counterpoint.
The everyday life of the 17th century
Two monumental paintings by Murillo, Moses at the Rock of Horeb and Jesus distributing the loaves and fishes, personify the works of mercy. In them, the artist inserted objects, food, clothing, and children's faces that provide a gentle realism and create identifiable scenes with 17th-century Seville. The exhibition also includes sculptures by Pedro Roldán, such as a crucified Christ and a Dolorosa.
For the people of Seville, this exhibition represents a unique opportunity to see the works from a different perspective, even if it is in Madrid. The church of the Hospital de la Caridad, currently under restoration, is one of the highest examples of Sevillian Baroque, and its pieces are rarely lent out. The majority of the works had never left the Andalusian capital, making the exhibition a major cultural event.
The exhibition will remain open until 22 November at the Conde Duque Cultural Centre, with hours from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00 and Sundays from 10:30 to 14:00. Admission is free, although it is recommended to book in advance on the centre's website.
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