AN international spotlight continues to shine on County Durham as some of the region’s most famous artworks extend their first foreign tour.

Francisco de Zurbarán’s life-size paintings of Jacob and His Twelve Sons, which are usually found in Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland, have spent the past eight months on display in the USA.

Following high profile exhibitions at The Frick Collection, in New York, and the Meadows Museum, Southern Methodist University, in Dallas, which attracted more than 81,000 people, the paintings have now moved to the Israel Museum, in Jerusalem, where they will be shown until October 2.

Dr Edward Payne, head curator of Spanish art for The Auckland Project, which owns Auckland Castle, said: “We are delighted that the temporary closure of Auckland Castle for conservation has allowed us to share Zurbarán’s masterpieces with the world, first in the USA and now in Israel.

“One of The Auckland Project’s key goals is to raise the profile of Spanish art and these temporary exhibitions are a great way of doing just that and of shining an international spotlight on Bishop Auckland and County Durham as a whole.”

The Israeli exhibition, Jacob and His Twelve Sons: Paintings from Auckland Castle, opened with a VIP reception at the Israel Museum, hosted by the Embassy of Spain to the State of Israel.

The event was attended by His Excellency Manuel G.mez-Acebo, Ambassador of Spain to Israel, and representatives from The Auckland Project.

The exhibition of Jacob and His Twelve Sons: Paintings from Auckland Castle has gained global press.

It marks the third time the Zurbarán paintings have left Auckland Castle as a complete collection since they were bought by Richard Trevor, Bishop of Durham, in 1756.

They will return later this year to Auckland Castle, which is currently undergoing a major restoration.

Once the refurbishment is complete, the castle will form part of The Auckland Project’s “arts, faith and heritage destination” for Bishop Auckland which includes a Spanish Gallery, inspired by Zurbarán’s paintings.

For more information visit aucklandproject.org or www.imj.org.il/en