Glory of Spain Exhibition makes its last stop in the U.S. at MFAH, courtesy of the BBVA Foundation

The BBVA Foundation was the lead underwriter for the exhibit, creating an opportunity for MFAH to host Glory of Spain for its last stop in its U.S. tour. BBVA USA President and CEO Javier Rodríguez Soler, alongside Gary Tinterow, Director, The Margaret Alkek Williams Chair, MFAH, participated in a client preview and media tour on February 26 and 27 respectively in anticipation of its March 1 opening.

“I have only been in Houston for a short while, but I particularly appreciate the opportunities to be a part of the bank’s long-standing partnerships with organizations like the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston,” said Rodriguez Soler. “Most organizations that offer access to the arts and cultural experiences are typically non-profit and rely heavily on the support and collaboration of patrons and corporate donors who share their vision. We believe access to the arts can play a major role in a city’s quality of life, and we are proud to have the opportunity to provide support for exhibits like this. Glory of Spain is an especially significant collaboration for us given the bank's global roots in Spain and the vast Hispanic population here in Houston and in Texas.”

Glory of Spain highlights themes such as Antiquity in Spain, Medieval Spain, Golden Age Spain, Viceregal and 19th-Century Latin America, among others. Artists represented in the exhibition include Francisco de Goya y Lucientes, El Greco, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Jusepe de Ribera, Diego Velázquez, and Francisco de Zurbarán.

The exhibition is the latest in an extensive collaboration between BBVA USA and MFAH to bring the arts to Houston and its communities. In 2018, the BBVA Rooftop Garden was named in honor of the bank for being the leading corporate donor of MFAH campus additions.

In 2016, BBVA was the lead corporate sponsor of the Degas: A New Vision exhibition that featured more than 200 pieces by celebrated Impressionist Edgar Degas, taken from public and private collections from around the world. In 2012, the bank teamed up with MFAH to sponsor Portrait of Spain: Masterpieces from the Prado. 

Glory of Spain, which spans more than 4,000 years of Hispanic art and culture through approximately 200 works of art, will be open to the public until May 25.