Elite Spanish-American culture comes to life in a one-of-a-kind exhibition at the Ringling Museum in Sarasota.

"Behind Closed Doors" features work from around the time of Christopher Columbus’s landing in the New World until the Spanish-American War, and shows the luxurious lifestyles of some of new Spain's wealthiest and most powerful.

“You would get a chance to imagine you were walking through the rooms of the house, from the ostentatious public spaces that are meant to impress, to the more intimate and private spaces," curator Chris Jones said.

The "Behind Closed Doors" exhibit is the first major exhibition in the United States to explore the homes of Spain’s colonial elite. The exhibit features art dating back to the 16th century.

“We are looking at 400 years," Jones said. "Four centuries of work, so it's really an incredible span of time we are working with.”

The exhibition includes a Biombo, or room divider. Spanish households would use these to separate the men's portion of the home from the women's or more intimate living areas.

The Biombo on display at the Ringling features a different painting on each side. The side facing the men's portion of the room is painted with the bloody story of The Battle of Belgrade.

On the other side, a more tranquil painting with trees and animals. This portion of the room would be where the women would sit, drink hot chocolate and socialize. In the exhibit the Biombo also serves as a segue into the more intimate portions of the home.

In the other exhibit rooms you will find fine china and silver. In the master suites there are bedposts painted with gold paint.

Maybe one of the most interesting aspects of the exhibit is the religious art. The elite Spanish homes had their own place of worship. In the exhibit there are unique religious works such as a portable altar that folds into a compact object.

“It was how they projected themselves, and how they presented their status and power," Jones said.

With 160 paintings, sculptures, textiles and other works of art to admire, you may wish that you were born into one of Spain's elite families.

The Behind Closed Doors exhibit will be at the Ringling Museum until Jan. 11, 2015. Florida is the last stop on the exhibition's United States tour. After that the art will go back to their donors.