(Image: Supplied)
Rare masterpieces by one of Spain’s most celebrated sculptors have gone on display in Bishop Auckland, giving visitors a rare chance to see three remarkable 17th-century religious works brought together in a new exhibition.
The pieces are on display as part of a new exhibition at the Spanish Gallery that celebrates the work of Pedro de Mena (1628–1688), a master of the Spanish Golden Age known for his lifelike and expressive religious sculptures.
Running until January 3, 2027, Sculpting the Sacred features three works by de Mena and his studio: The Virgin and Child, The Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, and Saint Peter of Alcántara.
Rare 17th-century sculptures by Spanish master Pedro de Mena are now on display at Bishop Auckland’s Spanish Gallery
(Image: Supplied)
Morlin Ellis, research curator at the Spanish Gallery & Library, said: "Pedro de Mena had an extraordinary ability to transform wood into figures which feel startlingly human.
"These works allow visitors to see up close the incredible craftsmanship, colour and emotion that made him one of the greatest sculptors of Spain’s Golden Age.
"They are a wonderful addition to the Spanish Gallery and another opportunity to experience exceptional Spanish art here in Bishop Auckland."
Rare 17th-century sculptures by Spanish master Pedro de Mena are now on display at Bishop Auckland’s Spanish Gallery
(Image: Supplied)
Born in Granada, de Mena became one of the most celebrated sculptors of 17th-century Spain.
His sculptures are known for their intense realism, achieved through detailed carving and painting techniques, including the use of reverse-painted glass eyes and, in some cases, human hair eyelashes.
The centrepiece of the exhibition is a life-size Virgin and Child from around 1680, which captures a tender moment between mother and child.
Rare 17th-century sculptures by Spanish master Pedro de Mena are now on display at Bishop Auckland’s Spanish Gallery
(Image: Supplied)
While the Virgin remains serene, the Christ Child appears in motion, playing with a piece of fabric—demonstrating de Mena’s skill in creating dynamic, lifelike figures from wood.
The exhibition also offers insight into the meticulous techniques behind Spanish polychrome sculpture, from carving and applying gesso—a white primer that prepares the wood for painting—to the encarnación process, a specialised painting method used to create realistic flesh tones and facial expressions.
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Rare 17th-century sculptures by Spanish master Pedro de Mena are now on display at Bishop Auckland’s Spanish Gallery
(Image: Supplied)
The Spanish Gallery, which holds Arts Council England accreditation, is the UK’s only museum dedicated entirely to Spanish art, history, and culture.
Located in Bishop Auckland’s historic Market Place, the gallery spans four floors and houses works by some of the greatest artists of the Spanish Golden Age, including El Greco, Velázquez, and Zurbarán.
Rare 17th-century sculptures by Spanish master Pedro de Mena are now on display at Bishop Auckland’s Spanish Gallery
(Image: Supplied)
The gallery is a central part of The Auckland Project, a regeneration charity dedicated to building a "brighter future for the picturesque market town through art, history, and culture".
Pedro de Mena: Sculpting the Sacred is on display at the Spanish Gallery in Bishop Auckland until January 3, 2027.
For more information, visit www.aucklandproject.org.