MARCOhiStórico: Spanish Baroque. Velázquez. Ribera. Zurbarán, Murillo. Valdés Leal. Alonso Cano

Thursday, 9 June 2011

Spanish Baroque. Velázquez. Ribera. Zurbarán, Murillo. Valdés Leal. Alonso Cano

Self Portrait. Velázquez.

Count-Duke of Olivares. Velázquez.

Christ crucified. Velázquez.

1. Intended for the Benedictas de San Plácido´s convent in Madrid.

2. The background is not a landscape but a dark coloured cloth as if it was a sculpture.

3. Four nails.

4. The wounds are diminished.

5. Perfect proportions different from the Renaissance muscle descriptions (like in Michelangelo)

6. Light on his body and halo around his head.

7. Serene beauty and concentrated silence.

Waterman of Sevilla. Velázquez

Vulcano´s forge. Velázquez.

1. Apolo visits Vulcano´s forge to warn him his wife (Venus) is with Marte (the God of war).

2. Gestures and faces of surprise and incredulity.

3. Light shapes the bodies.

The Spinners. Velázquez.

1. The important part is at the back.

2. Fifty cms were added at the top and thirty seven cms in the sides so the main scence (at the back) looks insignificant. It has the main light.

3. Mithological scene at the back: Minerva (protector Goddess of the arts) turns Aracne (an ordinary woman chanllenging Minerva) into a spider as Aracne has woven a tapestry trying to show as many skills as the Goddess. The tapestry represents Tiziano´s painting (Rapto de Europa)

Infante D. Carlos. Velázquez.

Jerónima de la Fuente. Velázquez.

Las Meninas. Velázquez.

1. Venue: A big room in Madrid´s Alcázar.

1. Infanta Margarita between two maids or "meninas" (María Agustina Sarmiento on the left and Isabel de Velasco on the right).

2. Maribárbola, Nicolasito Pertusato and the dog.

3. Behind them (Marcela de Ulloa and someone unidentified)

4. At the back by the door (José Nieto).

5. Mirror reflecting the King Felipe IV and Mariana of Austria being portrayed out of the painting.

6. Velázquez painting the royal couple. He is wearing Santiago´s cross, claiming his importance and thinking to show that his profession is not a manual skill but an intellectual ability.

7. Perspective. It shows air and space among the characters.

Pope Inocencio X. Velázquez.

The Surrender of Breda. ("Cuadro de las lanzas) Velázquez.

1. Breda: Important city in Holland is taken by the Spanish Tercios commanded by Ambrosio Spinola.

2. Political propaganda: The Spanish army has won the battle but Spinola gets off his horse and shows mercy to his opponent Justino de Nassau (Breda´s governor) handing him the city´s key accepting his defeat.

3. Two imaginary lines cross each other: One between the two horses heads and the other between the soldiers of both sides.

4. "Arrepentimientos".

5. Spinola´s Tercio flag.

6. Spanish spears showing order and power.

7. Breda on fire at the back.

8. Perspective.

9. "Mirones".