The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Santander and Cantabria has opened its doors to a work of exceptional significance as part of the initiative “The Art That Connects,” promoted jointly by the National Museum of the Prado and Telefónica. This is the portrait of Jerónimo de Cevallos, a masterwork by the renowned El Greco, which will be on display until December 8. This collaboration reflects an effort to bring art closer to various regions of Spain, taking it to the heart of its citizens.
The presentation event featured prominent figures from the cultural sector, such as Salvador Carretero, Director of the Museum; Joaquín González Ruiz, Director for Cantabria at Telefónica Spain; Andrés Úbeda, Deputy Director of Conservation and Research at the Prado National Museum; and Gema Igual, Mayor of Santander. Experts in the field have described the portrait as one of the crowning works of El Greco's late period, underscoring its transcendent value for understanding the stylistic evolution of the iconic Cretan painter.
The portrait of Jerónimo de Cevallos was identified thanks to a 1613 engraving that formed part of a treatise on the subject, who was a notable lawyer in Toledo during the seventeenth century. This portrait stands out for the innovative use of a visual device in which the subject's averted gaze creates a subtle effect of immediacy and movement. This technique, together with the simple palette of materials, links this piece to the portrait of Fray Hortensio Félix de Paravicino, a work that is housed in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
The initiative "El arte que conecta" is one of the central pillars of the commemorative activities for Telefónica's centennial, and seeks to strengthen ties through cultural dissemination. It is intended that renowned works from the Prado Museum, including pieces by masters such as Velázquez, Goya, Rubens, and Murillo, be exhibited in 18 different locations across Spain. This outreach effort encourages Spaniards to rediscover and value the country's rich cultural heritage, while at the same time promoting a vigorous cultural life in each locality.
With projects like this, the Prado continues in its mission to extend its influence beyond the borders of Madrid, a path that began with the commemoration of its Bicentennial in 2019 with the initiative "De gira por España". To date, this ambitious program has brought works to nearly forty cities, complementing the cultural offering with itinerant initiatives such as temporary loans and the program “El Prado on the Streets,” in which photographic reproductions of its works are exhibited in public spaces across the country.
