NEW YORK CITY (APRIL 2024): The Hispanic Society Museum & Library (HSM&L) – the first and primary US institution dedicated to the preservation, study, understanding, exhibition and enjoyment of art and cultures of Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries and communities – is pleased to announce the launch of a Goya Research Center Project, focused on preserving, promoting and fostering research into the work of iconic Spanish artist Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828). Seed funding has been completed for the Research Center, which will be physically located alongside the Library’s Reading Room within the museum, and led by Guillaume Kientz, Director & CEO and Goya expert, with the assistance of Dr. Patrick Lenaghan, Head Curator of Prints & Photographs.
“The Goya Research Center at HSM&L will serve as a beacon for scholars, artists, and enthusiasts alike, illuminating the genius of Francisco Goya and his enduring impact on art and culture.” says Guillaume Kientz. “Through our preservation efforts and commitment to fostering research, we aim to deepen understanding and appreciation of Goya’s legacy for generations to come.”
The HSM&L Goya Research Center will be the first of its kind in the U.S, building on successful initiatives in Spain and France, notably at the Museo del Prado in Madrid, the Fundación Goya en Aragón in Zaragoza, and the Musée du Louvre / C2RMF in Paris. Kientz brings a wealth of experience, having spent nine years as Curator of Spanish and Latin American Art at the Musée du Louvre in Paris. His initiatives in France, including the International Goya Study Days in 2012 and an international symposium in 2013, have contributed significantly to the study and promotion of Goya’s work.
The main objectives of the HSM&L’s Goya Research center include:
- Study: Leading in-depth research on art history, provenance, and technical analysis, with a first-phase focus on NY based collections.
- Promotion: Increasing appreciation for Goya’s works in the United States through programs and exhibitions.
- Publication: Producing physical and online publications to share findings and insights.
- Fostering Investigations: Encouraging further scholarly research on the artist through a fellowship program and an annual symposium.
The Goya Research Center will also play a pivotal role in creating a digital repository of Goya pieces held by the HSM&L, as well as, incrementally, by other Partner Museums in New York and beyond, through a virtual museum. The HSM&L boasts an extensive collection of paintings (4), drawings (13), and prints (ca. 800) by Goya, and several works by the artist’s entourage and followers, making it a resource of reference in the field of Goya studies.
By establishing the Research Center and fostering collaborations with other institutions, the HSM&L aims to inspire a new generation of Goya scholars in the United States and encourage further Goya initiatives as his bicentennial approaches (1828-2028).
This project was made possible by the generous support of:
Gregory Annenberg Weingarten, GRoW @ Annenberg
Fundación María Cristina Masaveu Peterson
Jasmine Charity Trust: Sponsorship in Memory of Regina Jaglom Wachter
