Jacob and His Twelve Sons at Auckland Palace

Two paintings from Francisco de Zurbarán’s series Jacob and his Twelve Sons at Auckland Palace will be exhibited at the National Gallery from 2 May – 23 August 2026 in the first major monographic show dedicated to the Spanish seventeenth-century master in the UK, and they will also be displayed at the two partner venues of the exhibition, the Museé de Louvre, Paris and the Art Institute of Chicago between October 2026 and June 2027.

In the course of the preparations for this show, the life size figures of Asher and Joseph are currently undergoing conservation work as part of the National Gallery’s National Conservation Programme. Thanks to the support of CEEH, the remaining paintings from the series will also be conserved two and three at a time during the touring Zurbarán exhibition. A conservation studio appointed for the project with CEEH’s funding will work closely with the National Gallery to ensure a consistency of approach and finish throughout the full process.

Jacob and his Twelve Sons has hung in Auckland Palace since they were first installed in its Long Dining Room by then Bishop of Durham Richard Trevor in 1756. The series was saved for the nation by financier and philanthropist Jonathan Ruffer in 2012 and that purchase proved to be the catalyst for a larger regenerative project that has turned Bishop Auckland into a visitor destination in north east England. The galleries and gardens of Auckland Palace were re-opened to the public after extensive refurbishment in 2019 as part of a group of attractions that also includes the Mining Art Gallery, the Auckland Tower and the Faith Museum.

CEEH has a long track of collaboration with the Auckland Project and the support of this conservation campaign is a new opportunity to continue a partnership that favors study and public awareness of the collections at Auckland Palace and the Spanish Gallery. Other joint ventures include:

Zurbarán y sus doce hijos. A documentary by Arantxa Aguirre
Zurbarán. Jacob and His Twelve Sons. A catalogue for the exhibitions in Dallas, New York and Jerusalem
The Spanish Gallery Studies. A series of publications