The Institutionalization of Decorative Arts in Spain: From a section in General Fine Arts Exhibitions to a National Fine Arts Exhibition

Abstract

Spanish  seminal  institution  of  contemporary  artistic  culture,  national exhibitions  of  Fine  Arts  were  created  in  1853  under  the  protection  of  the  public authorities  in  order  to  protect  and  promote  the  development  of  Spanish  art, surviving in successive biennial calls until 1968. From its beginnings they were structured in sections of painting, sculpture and architecture and from 1897 a section of decorative arts was incorporated that stayed until 1910 when the National Exhibition of Decorative Arts were created.

This  work  aims  at a  specific  analysis  of  that  section  in  this  first  stage,  its standards  of practice,  aesthetic  criteria  of  their  bases  and  rules  were  essential chapters  as  intake  works,  constitution  or  jury  awarded  authors. Consideration necessary  for  underlines  the  role  that  these  events  played  in  the  process  of institutionalization,  promotion  and  expansion  of  the  decorative  arts  in our country.