On Tuesday, April 5, 2022, Her Majesty Queen Letizia of Spain and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales arrived at Auckland Castle in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, England to view the famous thirteen art masterpieces, Jacob and His Twelve Sons, Francisco de Zurbarán  (1598–1664).

According to a past press release regarding the collection, Zurbarán’s paintings were:

“…intended for a monastery, church, or a wealthy client in Latin America, where Jacob and his sons could be viewed as the remote ancestors of the native people. Two similar series are found today in Lima, Peru, and Puebla, Mexico, respectively. However, the original destination of the present set is not known, leaving Zurbarán’s purpose in creating these monumental paintings, as well as their early history, wrapped in mystery. The series is first recorded in England in the 1720s, when it was purchased at auction by a Jewish merchant, James Mendez. In 1756, all but one of the paintings passed into the hands of Bishop Richard Trevor of Auckland Castle, County Durham, an advocate for the rights of Jews in England. The paintings have remained in Auckland Castle ever since…”

For more information about this exhibit please visit the official website for Auckland Castle here.