The Hispanic Society Museum and Library, located in Upper Manhattan, is selling 45 European Old Master artworks to generate funds for collection care and new acquisitions. This decision marks a significant move for the institution, which was founded in 1904 to promote the study of Spanish and Portuguese languages, literature, and history. The online auction, managed by Christie’s, will conclude on October 17, 2023.
The collection includes notable works predominantly depicting religious and aristocratic themes. The sale is part of a “special strategic deaccessioning sale,” as the museum aims to align its offerings more closely with its core mission. A press release shared with Hyperallergic highlighted that these artworks were deemed outside the museum’s central focus as it seeks to “responsibly diversify” its collection.
Among the pieces for sale is “Saint Dominic in Prayer,” attributed to the workshop of the renowned Spanish Renaissance artist El Greco. This painting is anticipated to bring in over $150,000, with the current highest bid already at $160,000. Other significant works include a modern copy of “Portrait of Emperor Charles V in an Armchair,” after Titian, and a Hispano-Flemish rendering of Saint Sebastian.
Funding and Guidelines for Deaccessioning
The funds raised from this auction are intended for enhancing the museum’s collection care, although specific plans for the proceeds have not been provided. The museum did not respond to inquiries regarding this aspect. The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) has established strict guidelines governing how accredited museums can utilize deaccessioning funds, allowing their use primarily for collection care. According to AAM, museums may sell works if they are redundant, damaged, or of “poor quality.”
Experts note that deaccessioning can often indicate that a museum has not received adequate support over the years. The Hispanic Society holds significant items, such as a first-edition copy of Don Quixote and a world map dated 1529, and is known for hosting events that engage the local community, particularly in the Washington Heights neighborhood, recognized as a Dominican Historic District.
Featured Works and Auction Details
The auction features a diverse range of artworks from the late-16th and 17th centuries, including pieces from the Spanish School and the Central Italian School. Among the additional works listed are a portrait of Isabella of Portugal, attributed to a follower of Titian, currently bidding at $9,500, and a Madonna and child after Luis de Morales. One of the highlighted pieces, “El Columpio (The Swing)” by 20th-century Seville painter Clemente Del Camino y Parladé, also forms part of this significant sale.
All artworks will be available for public viewing at Christie’s headquarters in Manhattan’s Rockefeller Center until October 15, 2023. As the auction nears its conclusion, the Hispanic Society’s decision to deaccession these masterpieces reflects both a commitment to its mission and the evolving nature of museum collections in contemporary contexts.
