As part of the 500th anniversary of the birth of Juan Valverde de Amusco (1525–1587), the National Library of Spain (BNE) has unveiled the exhibition Art and Anatomy in the Renaissance: Juan Valverde de Amusco and the History of the Composition of the Human Body. It will be on display until 1 March 2025.

Through this exhibition, the BNE aims to highlight the intersection of art and science by showcasing the most important work of the Palencia-born physician and anatomist, Historia de la composición del cuerpo humano (History of the Composition of the Human Body, Rome, 1556), a key reference in European Renaissance culture. The exhibition explores the scientific and cultural context of the Renaissance, the creation of Valverde’s work, and its artistic reception and impact. It features original editions, enlarged engravings, and significant pieces from the BNE’s collection that illustrate the dialogue between art and science during the Renaissance.

Organised by the BNE in collaboration with the Friends of the BNE Foundation (FABNE) and ACS Foundation the exhibition benefits from the contributions of prominent researchers from the Institute of History at the CSIC José Ramón Marcaida López and Sergio Ramiro Ramírez.

Exhibition brochure available here.

Journalist and opinion columnist José F. Peláez has been awarded the 5th David Gistau Journalism Prize for his article “Un progreso de cercanía” (“A Progress of Proximity”), published in ABC on 19 November 2023. The award, which comes with a prize of €10,000, recognises the literary and journalistic quality of opinion pieces and pays tribute to the career of journalist David Gistau.

The jury for the 5th edition was chaired by Gonzalo Suárez, editor-in-chief of El Mundo, and included Leyre Iglesias, deputy editor of Opinion at El Mundo; Pablo Gil, culture editor at El Mundo; Charo Lagares, deputy editor of La Lectura; Ignacio Camacho, contributor to ABC; Isabel Gutiérrez, journalist and head of International News at ABC; Rosario Pérez, culture reporter at ABC; and Jesús García Calero, director of ABC Cultural.

According to the jury, the winning article "captures a social trend through humour, renews the classic perspective of Spanish columnism, and uses perplexity and self-parody as tools to connect with its readers."

This fifth edition of the award, created by Unidad Editorial and Vocento with the sponsorship of ACS Foundation and Santander, received 200 submissions of journalistic opinion pieces published or broadcast in various formats between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024.

Official website: David Gistau Award