The National Gallery in London has opened "Zurbarán," the first major UK exhibition dedicated to the Spanish Baroque painter Francisco de Zurbarán (1598-1664). Featuring over 40 paintings drawn from the Prado, the Louvre, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Thyssen-Bornemisza, the Cleveland Museum, the Norton Simon, and the Gallery's own collection, the show spans Zurbarán's career from Seville to his brief stint painting for Philip IV in Madrid. Highlights include the unusual mythological work *Hercules and Cerberus* (1634), the fashion-forward *Saint Casilda* (c. 1635), and the meditative *Agnus Dei* (c. 1635-1640), which the review praises for its blend of beauty and visceral realism.
This exhibition matters because it fills a significant gap in UK art programming, offering British audiences a rare opportunity to engage deeply with Zurbarán's distinctive style—a blend of Caravaggesque naturalism and Spanish religious intensity. The review also connects the show to broader cultural conversations, referencing the late critic Peter Schjeldahl's final book, which celebrated the Prado's Zurbarán holdings, and positioning the exhibition as a chance to experience the artist's mastery without traveling to Madrid. The show runs through August 23, 2026.