Introduction
More discreet than those of his eminent and flamboyant friends, the works of Henri Fantin-Latour have sadly often been less studied and celebrated; therefore, the last important monographic exhibition that was dedicated to him, at the Grand Palais in Paris, at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa and at the California Palace of Legion of Honour of San Francisco, took place in 1982. After this memorable event, the paintings and graphic works of Fantin, often shown in thematic exhibitions and always at the centre of the museum in his home town, Grenoble, have only been shown in a single monographic exhibition, in Lausanne in 2007. For that reason, the
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon have decided they would re-examine the work of Henri Fantin-Latour in 2009.
Desiring to explore recent discoveries and, especially to take into account the great progress made in the research of 19th century pictorial art, this exhibition, though an ambitious selection of master’s works, more than seventy paintings, all considered of primary importance, as well as drawings and etchings, wishes to present these personal and profound works for the first time to the Spanish public.