On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P04655
- Author
- Sorolla y Bastida, Joaquín (Spanish)
- Title
- María Teresa Moret y Remisa, the wife of Beruete
- Chronology
- 1901
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 111 cm x 88 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- Yes
- Entrance
- MUSEO ARTE MODERNO
- Procedence
- Museum of Modern Art
María Teresa Moret y Remisa, the
wife of painter Aureliano Beruete,
is shown sitting in a simple
armchair over a neutral background.
The robe and black crêpe
embroidered suit, along with the
thin gold necklace are the only
adornments in this portrait.
This painting is paired with
another that Sorolla made of her
husband, and both display his debt
to the tradition of Spanish
portraiture, placing the figures
over neutral backgrounds that
strongly recall the work of
Velasquez. The absence of
surrounding secondary elements
leads the viewer to concentrate on
the figure, and this is reinforced
by the highly directed light which
illuminates her face. The manner in
which the clothing is rendered is
also notable. It is painted
directly over the canvas's priming,
making it possible to achieve the
transparencies and qualities of the
crêpe in a very believable fashion,
which again recalls Velasquez's
work.
This is one of several paintings
presented at the National
Exhibition of 1901, where Sorolla
won a prize for his overall career
as a painter.
Location on the map
