Prepare to be captivated by the upcoming exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts in Córdoba. In celebration of the centenary of the death of sculptor Mateo Inurria (1867-1924), the museum, managed by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports, will showcase ‘Mateo Inurria: Portraits’. This unique exhibition will delve into the artist’s portrayal of the human face through 29 sculptures, as well as a series of photographs and drawings. A must-see event for art enthusiasts!
From June 11th, visitors will have the opportunity to explore a selection of the sculptor’s finest works, gathered from the collection of the Cordoban museum. This institution houses the largest existing collection of Inurria’s sculptures, drawings, and other items, making it the perfect place to pay homage to the artist on the one hundredth anniversary of his passing on February 21st. Don’t miss this historical exhibition, a first of its kind, which has been specially curated to commemorate this significant milestone.
The exhibit at the Fine Arts Museum revolves around the theme of portraiture, highlighting the human face’s presence in the sculptor’s work, whether through sculptures, drawings, or snapshots. Alongside the twenty-nine sculptures, visitors will also have the chance to view photographs of works that are either missing or included in memorial monuments, preventing them from being displayed in the gallery. These images are part of Inurria’s personal archive, offering significant insight into and appreciation of his oeuvre.
Curated by Ramón Montes, a leading expert on the sculptor’s work, ‘Mateo Inurria: Portraits’ organizes the pieces into four thematic blocks: Folkloric, Idealization, Personal Portraits, and Portraits in Memorial Monuments. The ‘Folkloric’ section will display pieces such as ‘Bust of Lagartijo’ (1903), ‘Gypsy’ (1911) – the museum’s latest acquisition by Inurria – and ‘Sea Wolf’ (1903), sculptures characterized by unique anthropological features, both ethnic and labor-related.
The ‘Idealization’ section will showcase nine sculptures and ten photographs featuring Inurria’s portrayal of idealized figures, representing historical figures – ‘Head of the Great Captain’ (1915) – literary characters – ‘Bust of Seneca’ (1885) – religious figures – ‘Bust of the Christ of Forgiveness’ (1923) – or entities representing aesthetic values – ‘Daydream’ (1922) or ‘Sensuality’ (1915). The ‘Personal Portraits’ section, the largest of the four blocks, will present thirteen sculptures and five photographs portraying specific personalities from Inurria’s personal circle, as well as figures from the worlds of politics, bullfighting, literature, and journalism.
Furthermore, the exhibit will include a fascinating collection of photographs focusing on ‘Portraits in Monuments’. This final thematic block will feature two sculptures: ‘Head of the Great Captain’ (1915) – in white marble – and the bust of Eduardo Rosales (1922) – in satin-finished plaster. The photographs offer a unique tour of Ricardo Ortiz Villalón’s mausoleum in Cabra (Córdoba), the church of San Isidro Labrador in Hinojosa del Duque, the cemetery of Our Lady of Health in Córdoba, and the gardens of Saconne in La Línea de la Concepción (Cádiz).
