Goya's Prison: - Red Square Design

Acknowledgements
The idea to look closely at Goya’s Interior of a Prison has been encouraged by the most intense period
of building redevelopment since the Museum opened in 1892. This period of work which began in
August 2008 will be completed by the early summer of 2010. In this time we will have fully restored the
complicated and previously leaking roof, and created a number of new facilities and galleries on each
floor of the building. During this period we have kept the Museum open, juggling the needs of
the collections, with those of the visitors, contractors and staff, which have all occupied the site at the
same time.
Before the work began we recognised that this was not going to be a time where we could implement
large, multi-loan exhibitions, since scaffolding, cement and dust don’t mix well with objects from other
institutions. Understandably, lenders are anxious about lending precious objects to a building site. As a
consequence, we have taken the opportunity to study more closely important artists in the collection,
on this occasion, Goya.
In studying Interior of a Prison I have got to know Goya a little better than I did before, and have been
assisted in this by some of my colleagues who have been extremely generous with their time. Howard
Coutts, Sheila Dixon, Emma House and Viv Vallack all read and commented on the draft, while Laura
Layfield carried out some additional research for the main text and the catalogue entries. I would also like
to thank Elizabeth Conran, formerly curator of The Bowes Museum, who made some suggestions which
have also improved the story that this publication seeks to tell.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge each and every member of staff at The Bowes Museum. Throughout
all the building redevelopment they have maintained their spirit and enthusiasm, in spite of the upheaval it
has necessitated: the outcome of which is a magnificent 19th century building with facilities appropriate
to the 21st century.
31
Adrian Jenkins
Director,
October 2009
29 Portrait of a Man
Formerly attributed to Francisco de Goya
Oil on canvas
43.5 x 38.1cm
The Bowes Museum
This picture sold at the sale of the Conde de
Quinto in 1862 was believed at the time to
be a portrait by Goya of his brother.
Goya’s Prison – the Year of Despair