Tradition holds that Saint Mary Magdalene, a close follower of Jesus Christ, retreated to a cave in penitence during the final years of her life. Here, she clutches her purple robes and looks up at the bright divine light that falls upon her. Two attributes, or identifying symbols, of the...
With legs crossed and chin cupped in hand, Luis de Morales’s Jesus is both regal and melancholic. He sits among the instruments of his torture and death: the column to which he was tied during the Flagellation and the cross that he carried and to which he was nailed....
Christ’s expulsion of the money changers who were desecrating the temple in Jerusalem was a popular theme in Italy in this period. To Catholics, the image symbolized the purification of the Church through internal reform and the expulsion of Protestant heretics. El Greco depicts a chaotic swirl of figures...
Bernat Martorell was the greatest painter of the first half of the fifteenth century in Catalonia in northeastern Spain. Depicted here is the most frequently represented episode from the popular legend of Saint George in which the model Christian knight saves a town and rescues a beautiful princess.
This Baroque sketch likely served as a preparatory study for a larger work, depicting Saint Teresa of Ávila's ascent into heaven with dynamic movement and celestial light typical of Counter-Reformation religious ecstasy.
The painting is a formal and dignified portrait of Pope Benedict XV. It captures his authority and status while also conveying a sense of his humanity. The artist's skill in rendering the textures and details of the clothing and chair adds to the overall richness of the image.
This painting, by Francisco Antolínez, was painted between 1645 and 1700 and depicts the story from the Bible in which Jesus is found in the Temple after three days of searching. Antolínez was a historical and landscape painter. He was born in Seville, and was a nephew of José Antolínez.
Francisco Bayeu y Subías was a prominent Spanish painter, who had a significant influence on 18th-century Spanish art. His association with the Royal Collection suggests that his work was held in high regard, potentially commissioned or acquired by Spanish royalty. "San Francisco de Sales" being an oil on...
The pendentives of the dome of the collegiate church of La Granja in Segovia, Spain were adorned with sketches by Francisco Bayeu. He took over the project initiated by Giambattista Tiepolo, who passed away in 1770. Bayeu's contributions brought harmony, solidity, and clarity to the compositions, reflecting the...
The painting depicts the Virgin Mary with the Christ child in the foreground, while Saint Joseph stands behind them with a flowered staff. It is an example of cabinet painting, small works created by Bayeu alongside his fresco sketches. The painting reflects his embrace of neoclassical principles of moderation and...
The pendentives of the dome of the collegiate church at La Granja in Segovia were adorned with sketches by Francisco Bayeu. These sketches were part of a project initiated by Giambattista Tiepolo, who unfortunately passed away in 1770. Bayeu infused the compositions with harmony, solidity, and clarity, reflecting his training...
This painting depicts the biblical story of Abraham's encounter with three angels, as described in the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament. In the story, the angels visit Abraham and inform him of the upcoming birth of his son Isaac. Francisco Bayeu was a Spanish painter known...
The collegiate church at La Granja, Segovia, once featured a dome adorned with scenes from the Old and New Testament, which were unfortunately destroyed in 1918. These scenes were intended to glorify the Holy Trinity. One of the segments depicted God reprimanding Adam and Eve for disobeying him, while an...
"The Ascension of the Lord" typically depicts the moment when Jesus Christ ascends to heaven after his resurrection, as described in Christian theology. Francisco Bayeu was a Spanish painter known for his historical and religious works, and he was a prominent figure in the artistic community of his...
This work was previously thought to be a sketch by Francisco Bayeu for lost compositions painted in 1796 for the convent of San Pascual in Aranjuez. However, this identification is incorrect, as Morales y Marín discovered. The definitive versions of the compositions were found in the iconographic program of Aranjuez...
"The triumph of the Holy Cross" typically represents a religious scene or allegory symbolizing the victory and exaltation of the cross within Christianity. In this context, it likely refers to an artistic depiction of the cross as a central symbol of the Christian faith, often associated with the...
Sketch, from around 1763, for the fresco The Surrender of Granada that was located in the old dining room and kissing room of the Queen's Room, today converted into the Gala Dining Room of the Royal Palace of Madrid. "The Surrender of Granada" likely depicts the...
About the Image: The artwork depicts the Child Jesus discussing with the doctors of the Law in the Temple of Jerusalem. This painting belongs to a series of twelve artworks depicting the life of Jesus Christ, with their original golden frames, which come from the convent church of La Merced...
About the Image: This is a deeply evocative work titled "Interment of Saint Cecilia in the Roman Catacombs" painted by Luis de Madrazo in 1852. Let's dive into its details and significance: 1. Saint Cecilia: The central figure, lying gracefully on the ground, is Saint Cecilia....
About the Image: The “spiritual father of Cuba” was a missionary, religious founder, social reformer, queen’s chaplain, writer and publisher, archbishop, and refugee. He was a Spaniard who worked in the Canary Islands, Cuba, Madrid, Paris, and the First Vatican Council. Anthony learned Latin and printing while working as...
About the Image: Ah, "St James the Greater" by Alonso Cano from 1635. Let's delve into this striking piece: Artist Background: Alonso Cano (1601-1667) was an Andalusian painter, architect, and sculptor, making him a rare master of the three major arts of his time. He is...
About the Image: Saint James the Greater is an early work by the Spanish painter Jusepe de Ribera, who worked in Italy. He painted this picture in around 1615/16, towards the end of his stay in Rome. Ribera, who is among the first and most important Caravaggisti, further developed...
About the Image: This almond-shaped enamel plaque depicts the half-length figure of an angel inscribed in a medallion. A nearly identical plaque in the cathedral treasury of St. Martin at Orense in Galicia (Northern Spain) suggests that this plaque once formed part of a large altar frontal commissioned by Bishop...
About the Image: Murillo's great talent for dramatic painting is apparent in this monumental depiction of the familiar parable of the prodigal son, an allegory of repentance and divine forgiveness. With players and props effectively placed to underscore the drama, it is reminiscent of a well-staged theater piece....
