The Ibercaja Foundation showcases the historic models by Francisco Bayeu, used for the decoration of the dome of the Basilica del Pilar, alongside works by Goya in the Patio de la Infanta in Zaragoza, after three decades of not being exhibited to the public.
Exploration of Bayeu’s Models
The models that Francisco Bayeu created for the Basilica del Pilar between 1780 and 1783 are key pieces in the exhibition. These works of art, painted in oil on wood, with a diameter of 71 cm and a height of 36.5 cm, represent Marian titles from the Litany of Loreto: Regina Confessorum, Regina Patriarcharum, and Regina Virginum. Originally part of a private collection from Mallorca, these models are a unique testament to 18th-century sacred art in Spain.
Historical and Collaborative Context
The last time these models were publicly exhibited was in 1995 at the show «El Pilar is the Column» organized at La Lonja. They document the close collaboration that existed between Francisco Bayeu, his brother-in-law Francisco de Goya, and his brother Ramón Bayeu. These works served not only to define the final composition of the monumental work but also to adjust the color and arrangement of the figures within the architectural space.
The models are a clear example of the transition toward neoclassicism within monumental art, demonstrating technical mastery in drawing and the grisaille technique. They allow a close observation of details that would be impossible to appreciate from the dome at great height. The current exhibition «Goya. Interlude» includes not only these models but also preparatory sketches such as The Second of May 1808 and complete series like Children’s Games, and will remain open to the public during the expansion works of the Goya Museum.
The exhibition, enriched by the sketch of the Coreto of the Pilar and another 32 works by Goya, reaffirms the commitment of the Ibercaja Foundation to make Aragonese artistic heritage accessible, allowing a comparative analysis of two great masters of 18th-century art in one place.
