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Wondrous Hoards in Washington Heights

by Averlyn Archer

I'd been looking around the neighborhood for something new (to me that is) when I read somewhere about the Hispanic Society of America. It was so close, a short summer's walk for us New Yorkers, located at 155th Street and Broadway, containing treasures untold. The Society was founded as a free museum and research library by Archer Milton Huntington in 1904 to promote the cultural traditions and artistic heritage of mainly Spain, Portugal and Latin America, as well documenting their influence throughout the world. I arrived a little late for a tour held every Saturday at 2:00 PM, joining the group that had gathered in the Main Court according to the floor plan.

I was greeted by the Duchess of Alba, a portrait by Francisco de Goya. I can hear you thinking who is Goya and why the big deal!? Well, straight from Wikipedia, Goya was a Spanish court painter and historian, regarded as one of the Old European Masters who influenced Picasso and Monet. So there is the Duchess in her black, Spanish maja, in Washington Heights. The maja is peasant clothing, or at the very least not the clothing in which you would expect a Duchess to pose for a portrait. Supposedly the story goes that Goya and the Duchess were close. In fact if you look intently at the painting, you can see Goya's name inscribed in a ring that she is wearing. See if you can spot his name elsewhere on the canvas. But wait, there's more!




There's an entire balcony devoted to decorative arts — yes, ceramics, Spanish lusterware, textiles and glassware. From a three thousand year old Bell-Beaker to an ivory pyxis, we are reminded of the many influences, from the Portuguese to the Islamic, which yielded the bountiful culture which is Hispanic culture. While pyxides were used originally as perfume holders, Christians later used them as reliquaries, places to hold the relics of saints, thereby fostering their preservation until the present for our enjoyment and admiration.



The piece de resistance, I know French in an article about Spanish culture but we do live in an era of globalization, is a room off the Main Court that was created for the works of Valencian artist Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida. Given a contract by Huntington to decorate the room, Sorolla crisscrossed the provinces of Spain to capture the imagery he would then reproduce in his art. The vibrant colors celebrating traditional clothing for Holy Week, others depicting the procession leading up to the bullfight and the weekly hog market, and still another illustrating fishermen with a days catch weave a rich tapestry of life in the provinces in the early 1900s when these works were painted. The fourteen murals ravish the senses, transporting you into the rich history and culture of Spain.



While I can't imagine why you wouldn't make it over to the Hispanic Society to say goodbye to the Sorolla murals, a visit to this Museum whose holdings include paintings by El Greco, Velázquez and Ribera; archaeological artifacts and classical sculptures is worth the trip on any day. The Hispanic Society is located on Audubon Terrace, Broadway between 155 and 156 Streets. For more information about planning your trip to the Hispanic Society, go to http://www.hispanicsociety.org/ or call (212) 926-2234.

About the Author:

Averlyn Archer is the Curator and Director of Canvas Paper and Stone Gallery located in Harlem, New York. She received permission to use the images from The Hispanic Society of America for use in her newsletter and uptownflavor blog. These images may not be reproduced without the permission of The Society.

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