A donation from the family of Robert and Tina Tonti has expanded the collections of SMU’s Meadows Museum and Bridwell Library, including through the addition of a drawing by Pablo Picasso.
The drawing is the museum’s first Picasso drawing. The gift also includes the museum’s first acquisitions of Eduardo Chillida (1924–2002) and rare, first-edition plates by Francisco de Goya (1746–1828).
The donation to the museum includes a total of nearly 40 works, such as the Picasso drawing Tête de femme (1963), along with 15 ceramic pieces by the artist and the linocut Grande tête de femme (1962–63). The Chillida acquisitions include a complete set of 16 woodcuts from his 1973 series Beyond (Más allá) and the large-format engraving Bikaina XVI (1988). Additionally, the Francisco de Goya acquisitions include four plates from the 1824 first edition of Follies (Los disparates).
Some of the pieces will be debuted at the “Picasso Beyond the Canvas” exhibit on view until Jan. 24, 2027 at the Meadows Museum.
“We are deeply grateful to the Tonti family for their remarkable generosity and stewardship of these works,” said Amanda W. Dotseth, Linda P. and William A. Custard Director of the Meadows Museum. “The most meaningful gifts are those that continue to reveal new stories over time. By preserving and sharing these works, we ensure that they remain accessible to future generations while deepening our understanding of the artistic traditions that have shaped Spain and continue to resonate around the world.”
For the Bridwell Library, the Tonti family gifted 33 works on paper by American artist Jasper Johns. Those works span more than four decades, from 1969 to 2012, and include lithographs, etchings, aquatints and other prints.
“This remarkable gift represents an exciting addition to Bridwell Library’s collections and to the academic resources available across the University,” said Anthony Elia, Director of Bridwell Library. “Students and scholars will have the opportunity to study original works by one of the most influential artists of the modern era while exploring connections across a wide range of disciplines. These works will serve as valuable resources for teaching, learning and discovery for years to come.”
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