EXHIBITIONS

The Enlightenment and Liberalism. 1788-1814

The Rafael del Pino Foundation co-sponsored the exhibition “The Enlightenment and Liberalism. 1788-1814” within the framework of the activities organised to mark the bicentenaries of the Peninsular War, the South American Independences and the Constitution of Cádiz. The exhibition, held at the Royal Palace in Madrid from 18 October 2008 to 11 January 2009, received 43,945 visitors.

It was organised by Spain’s National Heritage organisation and the Sociedad Estatal de Conmemoraciones Culturales (SECC) - the Spanish Ministry of Culture organisation responsible for arranging cultural celebrations - , and was opened by HM the King on 17 October 2008, accompanied by María del Pino, President of the Rafael del Pino Foundation; Ana María Calvo-Sotelo, Trustee of the Rafael del Pino Foundation; Beatriz Corredor, Minister for Housing; Yago Pico de Coaña, Chairman of Spain’s National Heritage; Soledad López, Chairwoman of the SECC; and the Commissioners of the exhibition Emilio La Parra, Carlos Sambricio and José Luis Sancho.

On display were nearly two hundred exhibits from the collections of National Heritage, museums, libraries, archives and private collections in Spain and abroad. They were arranged in eleven thematic sections that recreated the most significant aspects of the period.

The exhibition began with the period of the Enlightenment, the height of which in Spain took place during the reign of Carlos IV (1778-1808), in which the Court was the driver of the efforts for reform of the Enlightenment thinkers, who were characterised by their rationalism and concerns for education, the study and dissemination of science and their love of fine arts.

Enlightenment thinkers were advocates of economic and social reform and philanthropic activities. The ideological trends from Europe were well received in Spain and gave rise to new habits in their daily lives. They also sought to promote reformism in America.

This period was marked in Europe by the French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon; in Spanish America, by the start of the pro-independence movements; and in Spain, by the transition from an absolute to a constitutional monarchy and by the change in thinking, from enlightened to liberal, all of it marked by the Peninsular War.