Two works, including a painting by the Villena-born artist José García Hidalgo (1645-1717), join the Prado’s extended program and are set to become part of the permanent collection at the Villena Museum (MUVI) as it prepares to open this year. The collection highlights a cross-temporal dialogue, connecting Villena’s artistic heritage with national treasures housed in Madrid.
Villena Mayor Fulgencio Cerdán announced a contract with Miguel Falomir, director of the art gallery, for the temporary storage of the pieces over five years. This arrangement is part of the Extended Prado initiative, a national effort to reflect the country’s artistic wealth within regional museums and to strengthen ties between local collections and the Prado’s wider context.
The MUVI team notes that the news adds momentum to the museum’s programming. Plans include a high-profile permanent exhibition that will showcase significant works from different eras, with the Villena treasure positioned as a major attraction and ambassador of the town’s cultural identity.
El Prado’s role in shaping collection strategy
three canvases
As part of the Extended Prado project, MUVI will display three pieces currently safeguarded in repositories of the national gallery. These include two paintings by the Villena painter José García Hidalgo: Child of John the Baptist, from the late seventeenth century, and Saint Augustine distributing wealth to the poor. The latter is a large oil-on-canvas work measuring 212 by 307 centimeters, comprising twenty-seven panels that depict the life of Saint Augustine and originally adorned the main cloister of Saint Augustine’s Monastery in Madrid. The contract also covers Portrait of Elizabeth II, created by an anonymous author.
The collaboration with the Museo Nacional del Prado gained traction thanks to the proactive efforts of a Villena liaison. Local figures coordinated several meetings, and MUVI technicians, along with deposit service conservators, engaged in discussions. This dialogue underscored the Villena City Council’s driving interest in bringing one of Spain’s most celebrated Baroque artists back into the public gaze, within the town’s own cultural orbit.