The Casa de Alba Foundation presents the exhibition Cayetana. Grande de España at the Palacio de las Dueñas in Sevilla
Curated by Eugenia Martínez de Irujo and Cristina Carrillo de Albornoz, the exhibition marks the centenary of the birth of Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, 18th Duchess of Alba, through a selection of close to 200 works, including artworks, haute couture dresses, photographs, objects and personal correspondence.
In early March 2026, Sevilla’s Palacio de Las Dueñas will open a new gallery devoted to temporary exhibitions for this historic event.
To coincide with the centenary of the birth of Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, 18th Duchess of Alba, the Casa de Alba Foundation presents CAYETANA. GRANDE DE ESPAÑA at Sevilla’s Palacio de Las Dueñas, on view from early March to late August 2026.
CAYETANA. GRANDE DE ESPAÑA traces the life of the Duchess who made the greatest impact on the recent history of the House of Alba, and her extraordinary contribution to preserving the artistic and historic legacy she inherited. Structured around five thematic sections, the exhibition journeys through her biography and her cultural contributions, from her patronage of major artists to her work as a collector and painter. It continues with her immense role as an ambassador for Spain and for the international profile of the House of Alba, as well as her status as an icon of fashion, flamenco and the art of bullfighting. It also explores her most intimate dimension, from the profound influence of her father, Duke Jacobo, in matters of heritage protection, to the defining role played by her husband, Duke Luis. The exhibition will also reveal lesser-known facets, such as her pioneering advocacy for animals, her charitable work and her social commitment.
The exhibition is the result of three years of research and work by its curators, Eugenia Martínez de Irujo and Cristina Carrillo de Albornoz, together with the team at the Casa de Alba Foundation, who have succeeded—through more than 200 pieces—in offering a panoramic portrait of the Duchess Cayetana.
An extraordinary selection of artworks acquired by the Duchess will be shown for the first time, alongside works by the great masters who portrayed her, such as Zuloaga and Benlliure. Alongside her profile as a collector and patron, the exhibition highlights her vital work in preserving the Casa de Alba’s heritage, through restorations and renovations at the Palaces of Liria, Monterrey and Dueñas. The show also encompasses her artistic side through a selection of her paintings; her life as a dancer and her defence of flamenco as an art form; and her role as a fashion icon, presented through her haute couture wardrobe, the groundbreaking Dior fashion show staged at the Palacio de Liria, and personal objects. As part of the preparation process, significant research and recovery work has been undertaken on the Duchess Cayetana’s photographic archive, which includes unique images by Juan Gyenes, Cecil Beaton and Richard Avedon. Documents of special value are also included, such as her correspondence with leading 20th-century figures including Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Jackie Kennedy.
The exhibition conveys the Duchess’s devotion to SevillA and takes place in what likely became her favourite residence: the Palacio de Las Dueñas, a spectacular 15th-century building in a Gothic–Mudéjar and Renaissance style.
With CAYETANA. GRANDE DE ESPAÑA, a new temporary exhibitions space—the Sala del Patio del Aceite—will be inaugurated. Restored over the course of two years, it will launch a rich cultural programme at the Palacio de Las Dueñas. For this occasion, the exhibition will also unfold across the house’s various reception rooms and in outdoor spaces, including the gardens and courtyards.
To accompany the exhibition, a book/catalogue on the Duchess will also be published in English and Spanish by the prestigious publisher Assouline, which is present in more than 70 countries.
