One of the most beloved paintings in the Telfair Museum of Art’s collection is Robert Henri’s La Madrileñita. It was originally purchased in 1919 by naturalist artist Gari Melchers. (Over a period of seven years, Melchers–who was married to the museum director’s niece–acquired more than 70 paintings for the museum’s permanent collection.) Today, Henri’s La Madrileñita serves as the anchor of the exhibition Spanish Sojourns, the first museum exhibition dedicated to the Spanish paintings of Henri (1865-1929), one of the most influential American artists of the early 20th century. Even the Metropolitan Museum of Art is jumping on the Spanish Sojourns train: it has loaned Henri’s Spanish Gypsy (the Met’s first acquisition of an Ashcan School artist, in 1914) to the Telfair.
After its stay at the Telfair in Savannah, GA (October 18, 2013-March 9, 2014), the exhibit will tour nationally, including stops at San Diego Museum of Art and Mississippi Museum of Art.
