The Ministry of Culture and Sports has acquired, for an amount of 237,100 euros, the work 'in Voyage' of Francisco de Goya, a drawing that was part of the 'Notebook F' of the artist and that, by its technique and theme, it must have been Made between 1812 and 1820.
Culture has explained that the operation could have been carried out thanks to the employment of the Tanteo, a right of preferential acquisition that allows the general administration of the State to purchase relevant parts of the Spanish historical heritage that have been subject to legal protection.
In this case, the drawing enjoys the maximum level of protection since 1995, date in which it was declared well of cultural interest. The work will go to the National Museum of the Prado that, in this way, has the opportunity to increase its collection of drawings of Goya, the most complete and broader of this artist in the world.
Until the incorporation of this new piece, it already retained among its funds 22 drawings of 'notebook F'. The set was composed of, at least, 106 drawings, dispersed throughout the nineteenth century. At present, they are divided by public and private collections of Spain, Europe and America.
'In Voyage' (also known as 'Bon Voyage' U 'man hitting a mule mounted by a monk') is part of a sequential group of four drawings in which the asses or mules are the protagonists of violence scenes, more or less explicit, in which Goya is served as daily reasons.
In this way, it represents situations in which the misery and tragedy prevail, reflecting the oppressive climate lived during the War of Independence and the Immediate Postwar. Possibly, due to the shortage of sufficient quality materials in those dates, the drawings of 'notebook F' are executed brush with railway ink (the one used at the time to write) and on paper of Spanish origin coming from a record book Notarial or some scribe, little suitable for drawing.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Culture and Sports has acquired, exercising Tanteo Right at a public auction, for an amount of 152,500 euros, 17 copper oils made by the Mexican artist José Joaquín Magón (active between 1742 and 1764).
The paintings, which make up a series of episodes of the 'life of the Virgin Mary', will be destined to the Collection of the Museum of America, State Museum belonging to the Ministry of Culture and Sports. Until the realization of this purchase, the center did not have among its funds with any work of this author.
The purchase of this set of Magón, an artist who developed his career in the Puebla of Los Angeles in the second half of the 18th century, allows to better know the practice of painting in the regional schools of the viceroyalty, beyond the activity carried out in the Mexico City.
The author, although it is known mainly in Spain for its caste paintings, also highlighted as a painter of religious themes carried out for ecclesiastical institutions. These orders, sometimes, were subsequently sent to Spain, as in this case. The group of works is among the most refined of the production of it, by its novel iconography and the quality of the details in the composition. In addition, it is especially unique that all works retain their original frames made in wood and silver.
Date Of Update: 07 January 2022, 12:35
