The National Gallery is set to present Britain’s most comprehensive exhibition of Spanish Baroque master Francisco de Zurbarán’s work in more than 30 years, offering art enthusiasts a rare opportunity to experience the profound spiritual power of one of Spain’s greatest painters.
Opening in May 2026, the exhibition will bring together nearly 50 masterpieces spanning the artist’s entire career, marking the first major monographic presentation of Zurbarán’s work in the UK since a modest display in 1994.
A Master Among Giants
Francisco de Zurbarán (1598-1664) stands alongside Diego Velázquez and Bartolomé Esteban Murillo as one of the triumvirate of Spanish Golden Age painters who revolutionized European art. Yet while his contemporaries enjoy widespread recognition, Zurbarán remains relatively unknown to British audiences—a gap this ambitious exhibition aims to address.
The painter’s work is distinguished by its striking naturalism and emotional intensity, particularly in his monumental religious paintings and contemplative still lifes. His ability to capture both the divine and the earthly in a single canvas has earned him recognition as one of the most spiritually powerful artists of the Baroque period.
A Global Collaboration
The exhibition represents an unprecedented international collaboration, with the National Gallery partnering with the Musée du Louvre in Paris and the Art Institute of Chicago to assemble works rarely seen together. This three-way partnership will see the exhibition travel to all three institutions between May 2026 and June 2027, creating a truly global celebration of Zurbarán’s legacy.
Among the highlights will be several works from the National Gallery’s own collection, including the haunting “Saint Margaret of Antioch” and the exquisite “A Cup of Water and a Rose.” These will be joined by masterpieces from the Louvre, including “Saint Bonaventure on His Bier,” and significant loans from major museums across Europe and America.
The Seville Connection
Zurbarán spent most of his career in Seville, then one of Europe’s wealthiest cities thanks to its lucrative trade connections with the Americas. This cosmopolitan environment provided the artist with both wealthy patrons and exposure to exotic materials and influences that would shape his distinctive style.
Working primarily for Seville’s numerous religious orders, Zurbarán created altarpieces and painting cycles of remarkable scale and innovation. His commissions for the Spanish monarchy further elevated his status, establishing him as one of the most sought-after religious painters of his era.
Father and Son Legacy
The exhibition will also spotlight the work of Zurbarán’s talented son Juan (1620-1649), whose brief but brilliant career produced some of the period’s most accomplished still lifes. The younger Zurbarán’s “Still Life with Lemons in a Wicker Basket” and “Flowers and Fruit in a Chinese Bowl” demonstrate the family’s exceptional ability to transform everyday objects into profound artistic statements.
Recent scholarship has continued to uncover new works by both father and son, and the exhibition promises to present several pieces that have only recently been attributed to the Zurbarán workshop.
New Discoveries and Fresh Insights
Beyond simply gathering existing masterpieces, the exhibition aims to present new research and discoveries about Zurbarán’s working methods and artistic development. A fully illustrated catalogue will accompany the show, offering the most up-to-date scholarship on the artist’s life and work.
“We are excited to present the most comprehensive survey of Zurbarán’s work ever seen in Britain,” explains Daniel Sobrino Ralston, the National Gallery’s Associate Curator of Spanish Paintings. The exhibition offers what he describes as “new insights on one of the great artists of the Baroque era, whose visionary paintings have shaped our understanding of 17th-century Spain.”
A Timeless Appeal
Despite being created over 350 years ago, Zurbarán’s paintings retain a remarkable immediacy and emotional power. His still lifes, in particular, possess a almost photographic clarity that can startle modern viewers, while his religious works continue to convey profound spiritual intensity.
Curator Imogen Tedbury emphasizes that Zurbarán “stakes a bold claim for the power of painting, both then and now,” suggesting that his work speaks as powerfully to contemporary audiences as it did to 17th-century viewers.
Exhibition Details
The exhibition will run from May 2, 2026, to August 23, 2026, in the National Gallery’s Sainsbury Wing. Following its London run, the show will travel to the Musée du Louvre (October 2026 to January 2027) and conclude at the Art Institute of Chicago (February to June 2027).
For art lovers and those interested in Spanish culture, this represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to experience the full breadth of Zurbarán’s achievement. The exhibition promises to establish the artist’s rightful place in the pantheon of European masters while offering fresh perspectives on the rich artistic heritage of Spain’s Golden Age.
With admission charges applying, early booking is likely to be essential for what promises to be one of 2026’s most significant cultural events.
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