Hispanic Society of America
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The Hispanic Society of America operates a museum and reference library for the study of the arts and cultures of Spain and Portugal and their former colonies in Latin America, the Spanish East Indies, and Portuguese India. Despite the name, it has never functioned as a learned society.
Founded in 1904 by philanthropist
Collections
The museum contains more than 18,000 works in every medium, ranging from prehistoric times to the 20th century. The collection includes important paintings by
The Sorolla Room, which was reinstalled in 2010, displays Vision of Spain, 14 massive paintings commissioned by Archer Huntington in 1911. Sorolla completed these works from 1913 to 1919. These paintings total more than 200 linear feet (61 m); they ring the large room and depict scenes from the regions of Spain.
The library contains more than 250,000 books; 200,000 documents; 175,000 photographs; and 15,000 prints. The rare books library maintains 15,000 books printed before 1700, including a first edition of
The society has been described as "perhaps New York's most misunderstood institution", because it was established to concentrate on Old Spain and its culture in its colonies, as opposed to Hispanic American culture, despite its location in what has over time become a predominantly Hispanic (chiefly Dominican) neighborhood.[1] In 2012 it was suggested that the museum (although not the society) be renamed the "Archer M. Huntington Museum of Art" to clarify this distinction, but the name change was never pursued.[2]
Creation of a historic museum
During the late 19th century in America, sentiments towards the country's relationship with Spain were negative. This is mainly due to the fact that during the 16th to 17th centuries, Spain had set its sights on dominating most of North and South America. Therefore, by the 18th century, the United States viewed Spain as an enemy that must be dealt with in order to move forward with American success in North America. During the 19th century, many areas once under Spanish control in North America were added to the territories of the United States. By the turn of the 19th century into the 20th century, Hispanic and Latin American studies became more pronounced in the scholarly world in the United States. Huntington's Hispanic Society of America was one of the leaders in the movement to bring Hispanic art to the attention of scholars in order to introduce the concept that Hispanic art was worthy of study. People started to realize that learning about Hispanic culture was important because it was such a large part of American history. Huntington had the foresight to see how important this kind of museum would be and established the museum in 1904.
Huntington worked diligently in collecting a vast amount of Hispanic art in order to put together the museum. In fact, he did not stop at art. He collected Hispanic heritage items, literature, and around 40,000 books which formed an enormous library used as a resource for scholars who study Hispanic history, literature, art, and culture to this day. Hence, his idea for the institution was not narrowly for showing paintings, sculptures, and historical artifacts, but more widely for it to be used as a center for research and scholarly study.
As for the design of the building, Huntington had a large role in the design and creation of the institution itself. The main building was based on the designs of Huntington's cousin, Charles P. Huntington. Huntington desired Audubon Terrace to become a complex of cultural institutions, which was partially realized. The chosen neoclassical design of the complex was designed to become the reputable institution that the Hispanic Society of America is today.[3]
Dia at the Hispanic Society of America
Between 2007 and 2011, the Dia Art Foundation commissioned several projects at the Hispanic Society's Building on West 155th Street. These commissions were by Francis Alÿs, Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, and Koo Jeong A. A weekly event called "Tuesdays on the Terrace" was also organized by Dia over these years presenting public outdoor programing of dance, music, and poetry.[4]
Expansion and renovations
In April 2015 the society announced the appointment of
Beginning January 1, 2017, the museum was closed for extensive renovations, although the library was open on a limited basis by appointment only. The $15 million project replaced the building's roof and lighting.[6] Originally scheduled to reopen in the fall of 2019, progress was delayed, with the new East Building Gallery, formerly the Museum of the American Indian, opening in 2021 for rotating exhibitions, followed by a general reopening in June 2023.[7]
While the museum was closed, many of its works were lent to other institutions. About 200 of the society's most important works were displayed from April through September 2017 at the
Admission to the museum has always been free, in accordance with Archer Huntington's trust. Due to financial difficulties, the society went to court in 2016 in order to be allowed to charge an admission fee to temporary exhibitions to be held in the museum's new facility, while keeping the main hall free.[11] As of 2022, admission to the new galleries is free.
In 2020 the museum appointed Guillaume Kientz, former curator at the Louvre and the Kimbell Art Museum, as its new director.[12]
Unionization and strike
In May 2021, workers at the museum filed their intent to unionize with the
Notable people
- Georgiana Goddard King (1871–1939), Hispanist and medievalist
- Mildred Stapley Byne (1875–1941), early curator of architecture and applied arts
- Clara Louisa Penney (1888-1970), early curator of rare books and manuscripts, Society member
- Florence Lewis May (1899-1988), early curator of textiles
- Elizabeth du Gué Trapier (1893-1974), early curator of paintings and drawings
- Alice Wilson Frothingham (1902-1976), early curator of ceramics
- Beatrice Gilman Proske (1899-2002), early curator of sculpture
- Eleanor Sherman Font (1896-1982), early curator of prints
- Ruth Matilda Anderson (1893-1983), early curator of photographs and curator of costumes
See also
- Hispanism
- Hispanist
- List of National Historic Landmarks in New York City
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Manhattan above 110th Street
- Beatrice Gilman Proske
References
- ^ Lee, Felicia R. (November 11, 2011). "An Outpost for Old Spain in the Heights". The New York Times.
And though its name suggests a connection to the mostly Latino neighborhood it inhabits, the museum primarily celebrates the Old World cultures of Spain and Portugal, not the arts and traditions of the New World lands they colonized. The potential audience just outside the museum's doors has never had much contact with it.
- ^ Olnytzky, Ula (March 3, 2012). "Hispanic museum seeks to make itself known". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ U.S. Department of the Interior. (n.d.). The Hispanic Society of America---american latino heritage: A discover our shared heritage travel itinerary. National Park Service. Retrieved October 17, 2022, from https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/american_latino_heritage/the_hispanic_society_of_america.html
- ^ An Introduction to Dia's Locations and Sites. Dia Art Foundation. p. 104.
- ^ Catton, Pia (April 20, 2015). "New Chairman Hopes to Boost Profile of Often-Overlooked Museum". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
- ^ Clark, Roger (December 30, 2016). "Hispanic Society of America to Close on New Year's Day for More Than 2 Years". ny1.com. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
- ^ "How New York's Hispanic Society is reinventing itself". The Art Newspaper - International art news and events. June 16, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ Museo del Prado News, accessed March 2, 2017
- ^ Roberts, Kathleen (October 28, 2018). "ABQ first U.S. stop for historic collection of art". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
- ^ Newsletter of the Hispanic Society, February 2020
- ^ Marsh, Julia (August 6, 2016). "Hispanic Society is so broke it's asking to charge visitors". New York Post. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
- ^ "Guillaume Kientz Named Director at Hispanic Society". Hispanic Network Magazine | A Hispanic News Source. December 27, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- ^ Cascone, Sarah (March 23, 2023). "Workers at the Hispanic Society Museum Have Voted to Strike Following Stalled Negotiations for a Union Contract". Artnet News. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
- ^ Cassady, Daniel (March 29, 2023). "Union Workers at Hispanic Society Begin Strike Over Stalled Contract Negotiations". ARTnews.com. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
- ^ "Hispanic Society Staff Vote to Strike". New York City Central Labor Council. March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
- ^ Irish, Anni (May 22, 2023). "Strike at New York's Hispanic Society ends after nearly two months". The Art Newspaper. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
Further reading
- List of Printed Books in the Library of the Hispanic Society of America. 1910 – via HathiTrust. (20 volumes, arranged alphabetically by author)
- Clara Louisa Penney, ed. (1929). List of Books Printed Before 1601 in the Library of the Hispanic Society of America – via HathiTrust. (fulltext)
External links
- Official website
- A Collection in Context: The Hispanic Society of America by the Media Center for Art History, Columbia University (includes a virtual tour of the museum)