San Telmo Museum pairs Goya's 'Disasters of War' with Motherwell's 'Iberia'
The Museo San Telmo in San Sebastián has obtained a complete set of Francisco de Goya's 'The Disasters of War' series, created between 1810 and 1823, which includes eighty prints that illustrate the impact of Napoleon's invasion of Spain. This marks the first time the collection is being exhibited alongside Robert Motherwell's 1958 artwork 'Iberia', generously lent by the Guggenheim Bilbao. Curated by María Bolaños, the exhibition examines Goya's lasting effect on modern art and features supplementary materials like photographs and the 'New American Painting' catalogue from 1958. Goya’s prints, which portray horrific events, were published posthumously in 1863. The exhibition is scheduled from May 16 to September 27, 2026.
Key facts
- Museo San Telmo acquired a complete edition of Goya's 'The Disasters of War' (1810–1823).
- The series consists of 80 prints documenting Napoleon's invasion of Spain.
- The exhibition pairs Goya's series with Robert Motherwell's 1958 painting 'Iberia'.
- 'Iberia' is on loan from the Guggenheim Bilbao.
- Motherwell created the 'Elegies to the Spanish Republic' series starting in 1948.
- Motherwell visited Spain for the first time in 1958 with Helen Frankenthaler.
- Goya never published 'The Disasters of War' in his lifetime; it was released in 1863.
- The exhibition is curated by María Bolaños and runs from May 16 to September 27, 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Francisco de Goya
- Robert Motherwell
- Helen Frankenthaler
- María Bolaños
Institutions
- Museo San Telmo
- Guggenheim Bilbao
- Museo de Arte Moderno de Madrid
Locations
- San Sebastián
- Spain
- Bilbao
- Madrid
- Fuendetodos
- Zaragoza