The Spanish Treasure
Title: View of Madrid from the Torre de Bomberos de Vallecas, 1997–2006
Artist: Antonio López García (Spanish, born in 1936)
Medium: Oil on canvas
Photograph © Francisco Fernández, Unidad Móvil
Photograph Courtesy: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Antonio López García
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
April 13 – July 27, 2008
“Antonio López García is considered a national treasure in his native Spain. We are proud to bring the
extraordinary works of this contemporary realist and visionary to American audiences,” said Malcolm Rogers,
Ann and Graham Gund Director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
“The hallmark of López’s work is the silence that he imbues in his simple subjects and his uncompromising
process,” said exhibition curator Cheryl Brutvan (the MFA’s Robert L. Beal., Enid L., and Bruce
A. Beal Curator of Contemporary Art). “López has an intense relationship with each subject—whether
his beloved Madrid or the quince tree at his home. His extraordinary patience
allows him to create an authentic art, filled with reverence toward such humble themes.”
Title: Studio shot of preparatory cast for production of Night, 2008
Artist: Antonio López García (Spanish, born in 1936)
Collection of the Artist
Photograph Courtesy: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
García was born in Tomelloso, Ciudad Real, Spain in 1936. The time frame is significant, a few months after his
birth his homeland began a civil war. From July 17, 1936 to April 1, 1939 Spainish forces were
at odds until the rebels were victorious beginning Francisco Franco's dictatorship.
At first it was expected that García would become a farmer, joining his family at work. But his
uncle, Antonio Lopez Torres, a landscape artist recognized talent in his nephew and encouraged his
creativity.
Title: Studio with Three Doors, 1969–70
Artist: Antonio López García (Spanish, born in 1936)
Medium: Pencil on Paper
Fundación Privada Sorigué Lleida (Spain)
Photograph © Francisco Fernández, Unidad Móvil
Photograph Courtesy; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
He studied at the Madrid School of Art. The isolation of a dictatorship prevented the artist from enduring
outside influences except through books. He was aware of Picasso's skill. It wasn't until 1955 that
a scholarship enabled him to leave Spain to briefly study in Italy.
Madrid has always held a special place for the artist. López has repeatedly painted and sketched
the city from a variety of distinct views throughout his artistic career.
Title: View of Madrid from Capitán Haya, 1987–94
Artist: Antonio López García (Spanish, born in 1936)
Medium: Oil on Canvas Mounted to Board
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid
Archivo Fotográfico Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid
Photograph Courtesy: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Like Monet, he found inspiration in his own garden. A popular theme for García is a
Quince Tree. The artists struggles to faithfully represent it formed the nucleus
of Victor Erice's critically acclaimed documentary El Sol del membrillo (Dream of Light).
Title: Pumpkins, 1994–95
Artist: Antonio López García (Spanish, born in 1936)
Medium: Graphite on Paper
Colecciones ICO, Madrid.
Photograph © Francisco Fernández, Unidad Móvil
Photograph Courtesy; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Erice film took top honors at the Chicago Film Festival and won the Critics' Prize at
Cannes. It will be shown during the run of the Antonio López García exhibition at the MFA.
There are three major categories in the exhibit: Landscape, Still Life, and
Figure.
|
Title: Glass with Flowers and Wall, 1965
Artist: Antonio López García (Spanish, born in 1936)
Medium: Oil on Board
Collection of the Artist
Photograph © Francisco Fernández, Unidad Móvil
Photograph Courtesy; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
|
The Garcia exhibit compliments the MFA's outstanding Spanish exhibition,
El Greco to Velázquez: Art during
the Reign of Philip III.
|
Antonio López García
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston:
April 13 – July 27, 2008
|
