Front Row Review: Spanish master Zurbarán at the National Gallery
Apr 30, 2026
Maria Delgado, academic and cultural critic, and Mark Ravenhill, playwright and commentator, discuss Zurbarán’s dramatic crucifixions, luminous still lifes and intimate domestic paintings. They also assess the Spanish-language TV adaptation of The House of the Spirits, focusing on magic realism, casting and narrative choices. Conversations touch on a conducting competition, a Brian Epstein play and cultural recommendations.
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Authentic Casting Strengthens The House Of The Spirits
- Casting Latin American actors restores cultural authenticity lost in the 1993 film with non-Latin leads.
- Maria Delgado lists Alfonso Herrera, Dolores Fonzi and others as examples bringing regional specificity to the series.
Stillness Sells Magical Powers On Screen
- Francesca Turca's portrayal of young Clara relies on stillness to convey psychic power, not constant activity.
- Maria Delgado praises directors for allowing the child actor to watch, listen and deliver eerie premonitions sparingly.
Keeping The Macabre Keeps The Tone
- The adaptation retains macabre and magical elements that are central to Allende's tone, avoiding sanitisation.
- Maria Delgado stresses the show keeps grotesque humour and fantasy even if reduced from the novel.
