This work shows politician, poet, playwright and tutor to Queen Elizabeth II, Manuel José Quntana (Madrid, April 11, 1772- Madrid, March 11, 1857) on the day of his coronation in the Senate as Illustrious Poet (March 25, 1855).
The episodes from the life of Saint Ambrose were commissioned from Juan de Valdés Leal (1622-1690) by Ambrosio Ignacio Spínola y Guzmán (1632-1684), Archbishop of Seville, for his private oratory. They are markedly specular in nature given that the saint and archbishop share the same name, ecclesiastical rank and connections with northern Italy. The series was conceived by Sp&
The painter, of Riojan origin, completed his artistic formation with Jean Changenet in Avignon (doc. 1493). When he returned to Castile he worked in Palencia and Burgos. The simplification of volumes in his work and the importance given to light show the influence of Provencal art. Besides the sculptural image of the bishop and saint, there is a striking contrast between the realist design of the
On August 29, 1626, King Philip IV’s painter, Vicente Carducho (ca. 1576-1638), signed a contract for the creation of a cycle of paintings to celebrate the founding of the Carthusian Order by Saint Bruno and its leading members. This colossal undertaking sought to visually narrate numerous episodes from the Carthusians’ history and tradition. It was the most complete commission ever dedicated to t
According to this saint´s story, he was walking along the seaside meditating about the mystery of the Holy Trinity when he saw a boy filling a hole in the sand with seawater. Saint Augustine asked what he was doing and the boy answered that he was trying to empty the sea by pouring all its water into that hole. Upon hearing his answer, the saint said that that was impossible. The boy´s answer was
This scene from the life of Saint Bernard depicts the Virgin Mary’s apparition to the Cistercian monk and the miraculous milk he received from her breasts as thanks for his devotion. He is accompanied by his customary iconographic symbols: an abbot’s staff, the bishop’s miter that he rejected, and books alluding to the texts he dedicated to Mary. This work was originally the central panel of one o
A Triumphant Christ appears to a group of saints among whom are Saints Jerome, Francis and Mary Magdalene. It is not known what church this work was painted for, although it is clear that it was meant to be hung at a quite high. Preti was a prolific painter who worked in Rome, Naples and Malta, where he was knighted and where he probably painted this work.
This painting is a copy of the lower part of El Greco’s celebrated original on display in the church of Santo Tomé, Toledo. A work of considerable quality, it reveals an interesting variety of pictorial devices: heavily charged brushstrokes in the areas of the chasubles and ruffs, with the pigment dragged and scumbled in other zones such as the Franciscan’s habit. It was formerly in the Jes
The Virgin sits with the Christ Child in the midst of grandiose classical architecture. She is surrounded by numerous saints in various positions. Above her, some angels prepare to crown her as Queen of Heaven. This work was sometimes thought to be a representation of The Mystical Betrothal of Saint Catherine, because of the strong presence of that saint, who is depicted kneeling before the Christ
This painting entered the holdings of the Museo del Prado as an anonymous Flemish work, although the 1873 catalogue reports the attribution to the Le Nain brothers proposed by M. de Chennevières based on its purported similarity to The Procession (Paris, Musée du Louvre, inv. 6841), then held to be an original work by these artists. From 1942 onwards it is listed as executed by Frans
Three bare-chested characters wearing dunce caps hold a fourth, nude character in the air while another lies on the floor, covering his ears, A sixth figure flees, his head covered with a white cloth. With his hand, he makes the gesture intended to protect him from the evil eye. At the right of the scene, a donkey stands out against the neutral background. This was one of six canvases Goya sold to
On August 29, 1626, King Philip IV’s painter, Vicente Carducho (ca. 1576-1638), signed a contract for the creation of a cycle of paintings to celebrate the founding of the Carthusian Order by Saint Bruno and its leading members. This colossal undertaking sought to visually narrate numerous episodes from the Carthusians’ history and tradition. It was the most complete commission ever dedicated to t
This is one of a set of panels (P612, P613, P614 y P617) from Santo Tomás in Avila, where they were very likely part of an altarpiece dedicated to Saint Peter, the Martyr of Verona. It originally stood beside the transept but was later in the upper cloister of the convent. Saint Peter, the Martyr of Verona (thirteenth century) knew Saint Dominic and became a member of his new order, the Pre
This canvas represents the full body of a bishop from the front, wearing an alb, a rich brocade chasuble and a mitre. He appears in a meditative pose while reading a book, which he holds in his left hand. On his right, he holds the pastoral crozier, which is decorated with a green cloth sleeve, in his right hand. The figure is located in the foreground, in an exterior dominated by a very open land
On August 29, 1626, King Philip IV’s painter, Vicente Carducho (ca. 1576-1638), signed a contract for the creation of a cycle of paintings to celebrate the founding of the Carthusian Order by Saint Bruno and its leading members. This colossal undertaking sought to visually narrate numerous episodes from the Carthusians’ history and tradition. It was the most complete commission ever dedicated to t
An altar with bible stories from the life of Mary Magdalene. The upper part shows a dinner at Simon´s house, when Mary Magdalene washed Christ´s feet with perfume and rinsed it with her own tears and hair (Luke 7, 36-50). The scene on the left shows the Holy Women´s visit to Christ´s Tomb, which they find empty. There, an angel announces the Resurrection to them (Mark 16, 1-8; Matthew 28, 1-7; Luk
This is a large gothic altarpiece. Its central panel depicts the Virgin with Child, and behind them, four angels hold the brocade backdrop while four others play musical instruments. Saint Benedict and Saint Bernard, both of the Bendictine order, stand protecting Archbishop Sancho de Rojas —on whom the Virgin is placing the miter— and King Fernando I of Aragon, who is being crowned by the Christ c
Saint Bernard of Siena (1380-1444) was an important figure within the Franciscan Order. Here he carries a staff with the anagram of Christ, while at his feet three mitres symbolise the bishoprics of Siena, Ferrara and Urbino that he turned down. The background includes two well known Toledan buildings: the Franciscan monastery of San Bartolomé de la Vega, which was destroyed during the Peni