solemnity
Why is the consummate Diego Velasquez called ” the artist of Truth»
The significance of his art in the development of world painting is invaluable, and his creative heritage served as a source of inspiration for the outstanding French masters of the XIX century. Kramskoy, Surikov, and Serov sang rave reviews of it. Fans of Spanish art have probably guessed that we are talking about the unsurpassed Diego Velasquez.
Biography
The greatest artist of the Spanish school was born in Seville in 1599. He was able to get a good education. From an early age, he grew up an inquisitive and well-trained child, quickly learned to read and from a young age began to collect his own library, which by the end of the artist’s life turned into a monumental collection.Judging by the subject matter of books and manuscripts in this library, Velasquez throughout his life was seriously interested in literature, architecture, history, philosophy, mathematics and astronomy, reading in Latin, Italian and Portuguese. Continue reading
What secrets about the young virgin Mary revealed by a medieval artist:” the Boyhood of our lady ” by Surbaran
“The boyhood of the mother of God” is a painting by Francisco de Surbaran from 1658-1660, now in the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg. An ordinary Spanish girl is actually a prototype of the young mother of God. And the prototype of the portrait was the artist’s daughter.
About the artist
Francisco de Surbaran (baptised 7 November 1598-27 August 1664) was a Spanish artist known for his religious paintings of monks, nuns and martyrs, as well as still lifes. Surbaran earned the nickname “Spanish Caravaggio” due to the powerful and realistic use of chiaroscuro. This is a unique artist, deeply original, whose work is connected with all the roots of Spain. Continue reading