Drawing in Spain Across Four Centuries

A revealing exploration of four centuries of Spanish drawings—from Murillo and Ribera to Goya and Sorolla—through the themes of religion, power, and daily life.

Spanish drawing has long been viewed through the lens of a few celebrated artists. Drawing in Spain Across Four Centuries brings together more than 60 works on paper from the complementary collections of the J. Paul Getty Museum and the Meadows Museum to tell a broader and more dynamic story. Essays trace the evolution of Spanish drawing from the Renaissance to modernity, showing how artists used drawing as a tool for training in workshops and academies, a means of circulating ideas across Europe and the Americas, and a medium for expression and experimentation. Organized around the themes of faith, politics, and everyday experience, the volume reveals a vibrant and diverse tradition that spans centuries and geography.

• Introduces readers to Spanish drawing, a field long overshadowed by Italian, French, German, and Dutch schools.
• Widens our view of the field by examining drawing and printmaking in Mexico City and other locations in Spain’s global empire.
• Features works by well-known artists like Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Jusepe de Ribera, Francisco de Goya, Mariano Fortuny y Marsal, and Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida, alongside lesser-known figures whose compositions open new perspectives on the field.

Bringing together masterpieces and surprising discoveries, this volume offers readers an engaging and accessible introduction to the rich tradition of drawing in Spain and beyond.

This volume is published to accompany an exhibition on view at the Meadows Museum from September 19, 2027, to January 9, 2028, and at the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center from February 15 to June 4, 2028.