Iberdrola donates a painting by Ferrer-Dalmau to the new alamo museum in San Antonio (Texas)

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Iberdrola donates a painting by Ferrer-Dalmau to the new alamo museum in San Antonio (Texas)

  • The artwork From Texas to Victory: A Spanish Contribution to US Independence, by painter Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau, will become part of The Alamo’s new museum, scheduled to open in 2027.
  • The presentation of the painting took place on 14 April at the National Historical Archive, convened by the Iberdrola Spain Foundation and the Spain–United States Council Foundation.
  • The work highlights Spain’s decisive role in the independence of the United States, through the supply of livestock and resources from what is now Texas and the southern United States.
  • This initiative forms part of the wide range of activities planned throughout the year to commemorate Iberdrola’s 125th anniversary.

 Iberdrola has donated to the future Alamo Museum a work by painter Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau dedicated to Spain’s contribution to the independence of the United States. The painting, entitled From Texas to Victory: A Spanish Contribution to US Independence / Cattle Drive for Victory. A Contribution of Spanish Texas to the Independence of the US, will form part of the new museum complex currently being developed in the city of San Antonio and scheduled to open in 2027.

The presentation of the painting took place on the afternoon of 14 April at the National Historical Archive, at an event organised by the Spain–United States Council Foundation. This institution works closely with The Alamo Trust—responsible for the new museum complex—and with the City of San Antonio, promoting initiatives to disseminate the shared historical legacy.

Among those attending the presentation were Jaime Alfonsín, Chairman of the Iberdrola Spain Foundation, and Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau himself, the artist behind the work.

According to Jaime Alfonsín: “On the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States, this cultural initiative highlights Spain’s decisive financial, strategic and military contribution to the birth of the American nation, as part of a shared history based on cooperation and common values.”

For the artist Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau: “This is the third work I have produced on Spain’s assistance in the birth of the United States. It has been an opportunity, hand in hand with Iberdrola, to revisit these events and to contribute with my brushes to ensure that this history, until recently largely unknown, is shared both in our own country and across the Atlantic.

 The New Alamo Museum

The new Alamo Museum is part of an ambitious renovation project for the historic Texan site, which will include the construction of a major visitor and museum centre, new educational spaces and the restoration of existing historic buildings. The aim is to offer a more comprehensive interpretation of the site’s history and its role in the historical development of Texas and North America, also incorporating the Spanish period and its contributions.

 A Little-Known Episode of Spanish Support

Ferrer-Dalmau’s work forms part of the project Unveiling Memories, an initiative promoted by Iberdrola since 2017 to shed light on little-known episodes of Spanish presence and contribution in the history of the United States. Since its launch, the project has supported more than fifty cultural and historical initiatives in different parts of the country.

The Artwork

The painting, whose style reflects the contemporary historicism characteristic of the artist, depicts the cattle drive organised from the former northern frontier of the Spanish monarchy in America—known as the Internal Provinces of New Spain, now partly corresponding to the present-day states of New Mexico, Texas and Louisiana—to support the Spanish military effort during the American War of Independence.

In 1779, when Spain declared war on Great Britain and joined France in the conflict, the Governor of Spanish Louisiana, Bernardo de Gálvez, requested the dispatch of thousands of head of cattle to supply the troops preparing for the campaign against the British in the Mississippi Valley and Florida. Following instructions from the colonial authorities, around fifty ranches and numerous missions—particularly around San Antonio de Béxar—contributed livestock to this logistical operation.

It is estimated that more than 15,000 heads of cattle were gathered and driven by cowboys, escorted by troops from regional presidios, along the historic Camino Real de los Tejas to Louisiana. Spanish logistical support proved crucial to the military operations that led to the expulsion of British forces from several strategic points in the south. In 1779, British positions along the Mississippi River were cleared; the following year saw the capture of Mobile and, in 1781, the victory at Pensacola, capital of British West Florida. These operations significantly weakened the British position in the southern colonies at a critical moment in the war for George Washington’s troops, contributing to the outcome of the conflict and to the birth of the United States.

125 años luz: A Broad Programme for Society

This agreement forms part of the extensive and varied programme designed for 2026 to mark the 125th anniversary of Iberdrola’s founding. Under the slogan “125 Years of Light”, the company will roll out initiatives aimed at employees, customers, shareholders and the public, ranging from art exhibitions and music festivals to technological showcases and social events. The programme seeks to bring Iberdrola’s legacy closer to society as a whole and, above all, to convey its vision, outlook and strong commitment to the communities in which it operates.