In this article we are going to talk about one of the most important painters of the Italian Renaissance: Jacopo Robusti, better known as Tintoretto. His work is characterized by the use of light, color and movement, as well as by his influence on later artists such as Rubens or Velázquez. However, his life was marked by curious events, so join us to discover the life and work of this painting genius.

## 1 His nickname is due to his father.

Tintoretto's father was a dyer, that is, an artisan who dyed fabrics. Therefore, his son was given the nickname Tintoretto, which means "little dyer" in Italian.

## 2 He was a disciple of Titian.

Tintoretto deeply admired Titian, the master of the Venetian school. According to legend, he sneaked into his workshop to copy his works and learn his techniques. However, Titian did not appreciate his talent and expelled him from his studio.

## 3 He was a tireless worker.

Tintoretto had a great passion for painting and devoted all his time to perfecting his art. It is said that he slept only four hours a day and had a motto in his studio: "The drawing of Michelangelo and the color of Titian."

![](https://www.grandesmuseos.news/images/El%20rapto%20de%20Helena.jpg)

*The Rape of Helen, Prado Museum.*

## 4 He painted more than 700 paintings.

Tintoretto's artistic production was enormous and covered diverse subjects: religious, mythological, historical, portraits, etc. Among his most famous works are "The Washing of the Feet" and "The Marriage at Cana".

## 5 He was an innovator in the use of perspective.

Tintoretto was one of the first painters to use aerial perspective, that is, the technique of creating a sense of depth and distance by changing the tone and sharpness of objects according to their distance. He also employed foreshortened perspective, which consists of depicting figures at extreme angles to create a dramatic effect.

## 6 He created scenes full of dynamism and emotion.

Tintoretto moved away from the classical ideal of beauty and harmony and sought to capture reality in all its intensity and complexity. His paintings show scenes full of action, movement and expressiveness, where figures are intertwined and illuminated with strong contrasts.

![](https://www.grandesmuseos.news/images/Mois%C3%A9s%20salvado%20de%20las%20aguas.jpg)

*Moses Saved from the Waters, Prado Museum.*

## 7 He was a master of chiaroscuro.

Chiaroscuro is the technique of creating contrasts between light and shadow to emphasize the volume and relief of forms. Tintoretto was an expert in this technique and used it to create dramatic and mysterious atmospheres in his works.

## 8 It had a great influence on later art.

Tintoretto's work anticipated some features of the Baroque, such as the use of color, light and movement to create theatrical and emotional effects. His style influenced painters such as Rubens, Velázquez, Rembrandt and El Greco.

If you want to know more about Tintoretto and his work, technical characteristics, data on Renaissance artists and, above all, information on the greatest works of art housed in the Prado Museum in Madrid, we recommend ["The Prado Art Guide" already available on Amazon by clicking here.](https://www.amazon.es/Prado-Art-Guide-essential-masterpieces/dp/8418943394)

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8 curiosities to discover Tintoretto

Cézanne was born in 1839 in Aix-en-Provence, and moved to Paris in 1861 to study art. There he met Camille Pissarro, with whom he developed a close friendship and artistic collaboration. Together they explored the possibilities of color, light and form, and created works that broke with academic conventions and anticipated the birth of Cubism.

Paul Cézanne was a perfectionist when it came to his art. The French Impressionist painter was so stressed by his work that he was often known to tear canvases and destroy them. When painting outdoors, some of these paintings would end up being thrown into the bushes by the frustrated artist. He was once seen trying to retrieve a painting from a large tree after he had calmed down.

The Musée d'Orsay, which, along with the Louvre, is one of the most famous and visited museums in Paris, houses an impressive collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works. Among them, the paintings of Paul Cézanne, one of the most influential and innovative artists of his time, stand out.

At the Musée d'Orsay you can admire some of Cézanne's best works, covering different genres and stages of his career. Among them are The Card Players (between 1890 and 1895): a series of five paintings depicting everyday scenes of peasants playing cards in a tavern. Cézanne simplified shapes and colors, and created a balanced and harmonious composition.

![](https://img2.rtve.es/v/1314758?w=1600\&preview=1328543783951.jpg)

Cézanne is considered the father of post-impressionism, an artistic movement that sought to go beyond the naturalistic representation of light and color to explore personal expression and form. His work influenced artists such as Picasso, Matisse and Braque, who admired his use of geometry and perspective.

However, Cézanne was not always recognized for his talent and originality. For much of his life, he suffered rejection from critics and the public, which increased his insecurity and pathological perfectionism. Despite having friends like Monet and Renoir, he felt misunderstood and isolated. His irascible and demanding character also caused him problems with his family and his mistress.

Another work that shows the painter's obsession with perfection was Apples and Oranges (1899): a still life showing a table with fruit, plates and a pitcher. Cézanne played with perspective and geometry, and created an effect of depth and volume with the contrast of warm and cold tones.

![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f6buPkQejdo/U-vZ5q86a2I/AAAAAAAAByM/-C5sy4li8Gg/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/Imagen2.jpg)

Cézanne dedicated his life to his art, but was never satisfied with its results. His relentless pursuit of perfection led him to create masterpieces, but also to suffer great anguish. His legacy is that of an incomparable genius, but also of a man tormented by his own demons.


If you want to learn more about other works by Cezanne, we recommend "Musée d'Orsay Art Guide", our book about the museum that houses the largest amount of Impressionist work in the world, as well as a must-have art guide to discover and learn the essentials of the great works, artists and styles of the Musée de l'Orsay, soon available on Amazon.


Cézanne: from pathological perfectionist to father of post-impressionism

Art is not created in a vacuum, but is nourished by the influences, references and homages of the artists that precede it. Throughout history, many creators have reinterpreted, versioned or emulated previous works of art, whether out of admiration, criticism or experimentation. In this article we will look at four examples of works of art that establish a dialogue with the past and invite us to reflect on the meaning and value of art.

## Olympia by Édouard Manet

One of the most famous and scandalous works of French Impressionism is Olympia, painted by Édouard Manet in 1863. It is a female nude who looks at the viewer with a defiant attitude and is accompanied by a black maid who offers her a bouquet of flowers. The work caused great controversy for its crude realism and its break with the canons of classical beauty.

However, Olympia is not an original work, but is inspired by the Venus of Urbino, a Renaissance painting by Titian made in 1538. In it, we also see a nude woman looking at the viewer, but with a gentler and more demure expression. She is surrounded by symbolic elements that allude to her condition of faithful wife and fertile mother, such as the sleeping dog, the chest or the roses.

Manet transforms the Venus of Urbino into a modern prostitute who defies the social and moral conventions of her time. With his work, Manet questions the aesthetic and ethical ideals of academic art and proposes a new way of representing reality.

![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RC41A7m39tE/VyeCAkIkHpI/AAAAAAAFoPw/vY1nD812QHcKpSJ6TWrkNkLJ5KFz-fHJgCKgB/s1600/%25C3%2589douard%2BManet%2BOlympia%252C%2B1863%2B%25283%2529.jpg)

[Olympia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/%C3%89douard_Manet_-_Olympia_-_Google_Art_Project_3.jpg/1200px-%C3%89douard_Manet_-_Olympia_-_Google_Art_Project_3.jpg) (1863) by Édouard Manet. Museo d'Orsay, París.

[Venus de Urbino](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Tizian_102.jpg/1200px-Tizian_102.jpg) (1538) by Titian. Galería Uffizi, Florencia.

## Las Meninas by Pablo Picasso

Another example of artistic reinterpretation is the series of 58 works that Pablo Picasso dedicated to Las Meninas, the famous painting by Diego Velázquez painted in 1656. It is a Spanish Baroque masterpiece depicting an everyday scene at the court of King Philip IV, with the Infanta Margarita as the protagonist and Velázquez himself as the self-portrait.

Picasso deeply admired Velázquez and decided to study his work from different perspectives and styles. Between August and December 1957, Picasso made several versions of Las Meninas, from the most faithful to the most abstract, passing through cubism, expressionism and surrealism. With his series, Picasso not only pays homage to Velázquez, but also explores the possibilities of pictorial language and his own identity as an artist.

![](https://th.bing.com/th/id/R.5f269af7dff8eca00a29a424e751433a?rik=s8PjZknvl9BL4A\&pid=ImgRaw\&r=0)

[Las Meninas](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/Las_Meninas%2C_by_Diego_Vel%C3%A1zquez%2C_from_Prado_in_Google_Earth.jpg/1200px-Las_Meninas%2C_by_Diego_Vel%C3%A1zquez%2C_from_Prado_in_Google_Earth.jpg) (1656) by Diego Velázquez. Museo del Prado, Madrid.

[Las Meninas](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4c/PicassoLasMeninas1957.jpg/1200px-PicassoLasMeninas1957.jpg) (1957) by Pablo Picasso. Picasso Museum, Barcelona.

## The Scream by Munch

One of the most iconic and universal works of modern art is The Scream by Norwegian painter Edvard Munch. It is a series of four works produced between 1893 and 1910, depicting an androgynous figure expressing her existential anguish with a gesture of horror. The work is one of the precursors of expressionism and reflects the feeling of alienation and loneliness of human beings in industrial society.

The scream has a clear influence of another earlier work, The Parable of the Blind, by the Flemish painter Pieter Brueghel the Elder. It is a 16th century painting illustrating a biblical passage in which six blind men are walking towards a precipice. The work is a critique of the ignorance and superstition of the time.

Munch draws on Brueghel's composition and coloring to create his own version of human despair. However, Munch does not depict a religious or moral scene, but a personal and subjective experience. With his work, Munch inaugurates a new way of expressing emotions and psychological states through art.

![](https://artsdot.com/ADC/Art-ImgScreen-3.nsf/O/A-7YUDHV/$FILE/Pieter-bruegel-the-elder-the-parable-of-the-blind-leading-the-blind.jpg)

[The Scream](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/The_Scream.jpg/1200px-The_Scream.jpg) (1893) by Edvard Munch. National Gallery of Norway, Oslo.

[The Parable of the Blind](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Pieter_Bruegel_the_Elder_-_The_Parable_of_the_Blind_Leading_the_Blind_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/1200px-Pieter_Bruegel_the_Elder_-_The_Parable_of_the_Blind_Leading_the_Blind_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg) (1568) by Pieter Brueghel the Elder. Museo di Capodimonte, Naples.

## Marilyn Monroe by Andy Warhol

Finally, we cannot fail to mention one of the most representative works of pop art, the artistic movement that emerged in the 50s and 60s and is characterized by using images and objects of popular culture and mass consumption. One of its greatest exponents was the American artist Andy Warhol, who used the silkscreen technique to create works based on photographs and media icons.

One of his recurring themes was the actress Marilyn Monroe, to whom he dedicated several series of works after her death in 1962. Warhol took as a reference a publicity photograph from the film Niagara (1953) and reproduced it in different colors and combinations. With his work, Warhol not only pays homage to the Hollywood star, but also reflects on fame, death and the trivialization of the image.

![](/images/R.jpg)

[Marilyn Monroe](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e3/Marilyn_Monroe_by_Andy_Warhol_%281963%29.jpg/1200px-Marilyn_Monroe_by_Andy_Warhol_%281963%29.jpg) (1962) by Andy Warhol. Tate Modern, London.

[Advertising photography](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Marilyn_Monroe_in_Niagara.png/1200px-Marilyn_Monroe_in_Niagara.png) (1953) by Niagara. 20th Century Fox.## Marilyn Monroe by Andy Warhol

These are just a few examples of works of art that pay homage to or version previous works of art, but there are many more. Art is a living language that is constantly renewed thanks to the dialogue between artists and their referents.

We invite you to discover other works that surprise you by their similarities or differences with others you already know in our collection of books Great Museums. With these books you can discover artists along with their work, technical characteristics, data and, above all, information about the greatest works of art housed in the world's major museums. If, for example, you want to know the Prado Museum in Madrid, we recommend ["The Prado Art Guide" already available on Amazon by clicking here.](https://www.amazon.es/Museo-del-Prado-maestras-esenciales/dp/8418943378)

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Works of art in dialogue with the past

Vincent Van Gogh's love life was as stormy as his artistic life. The two great passions of the painter ended up being sources of frustration that have marked his whole life. In 1881 he fell in love with his cousin, eight years older than him and who had just been widowed. Her name was Kee Stricker and she was the widow of a first cousin of Vincent. The painter proposed to her, but she flatly refused, telling him that she would rather throw herself into the fire than marry him. Vincent, in desperation, tried to burn his hand in a lamp to show his love, but his father stopped him in time.

This episode marked the beginning of a series of love disappointments that influenced Van Gogh's work. The painter looked for love in women who did not correspond to him or who had a difficult life. Thus, he fell in love with Sien Hoornik, a pregnant prostitute whom he took into his home and with whom he lived for two years. However, the relationship deteriorated due to jealousy and arguments, and Van Gogh ended up leaving her. Sien committed suicide a few years later.

Another woman who marked Van Gogh's life was Agostina Segatori, the owner of the Café du Tambourin, where the painter used to exhibit his works. Agostina was an Italian model who had posed for several famous artists, such as Corot and Manet. Van Gogh was attracted to her and maintained a relationship for a few months, but she left him when the painter began to have financial and health problems.

![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ci/ALr3YSFygWvV0p7yS4LOHN6WjtCrGz0wRzj-fo-8FEEeBli8ulvDLyS9FXPez5WAS5JSEiRDwz4BaLk=s1200)

*Agostina Segatori, Van Gogh Museum.*


In 1888, Van Gogh settled in Arles, where he rented a yellow house to create an artists' studio. There he met Paul Gauguin, with whom he struck up a friendship and an artistic rivalry. Some biographers have suggested that there was more than just a friendship between them, based on the letters they exchanged and the portraits they made of each other. However, there is no conclusive evidence that there was a homosexual relationship between them.

What we do know is that Van Gogh had an altercation with Gauguin on December 23, 1888, when the former threatened him with a razor and then cut off part of his left ear. The next day, Van Gogh gave the piece of ear to a prostitute named Rachel, to whom he said, "Keep it carefully." This gesture has been interpreted as a token of love or as an act of madness.

Van Gogh's last love was Marguerite Gachet, the daughter of the doctor who treated him in the last months of his life. Marguerite was 19 years old and was fond of drawing. Van Gogh made two portraits of her and dedicated some letters to her. However, Marguerite's father objected to the relationship and forbade his daughter to see the painter. Van Gogh felt rejected once again and fell into a deep depression. On July 27, 1890 he shot himself in the chest and died two days later.

![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Marguerite_Gachet_in_the_Garden.jpg)

*Marguerite Gachet in the Garden, Orsay Museum.*


Van Gogh's work reflects his feelings and moods throughout his life. His vivid colors and expressive brushstrokes show his passion and emotional intensity, but also his anguish and loneliness. His self-portraits are testimonies of his personal and artistic evolution, as well as of his physical and psychological wounds. His landscapes are refuges where he seeks peace and harmony with nature. His portraits are tributes to the people he knew and loved, but also to those who suffered as he did.

Van Gogh was a misunderstood artist in his time, but also a man who searched for love without finding it. His work is the legacy of a genius who painted from the heart and left an indelible mark in the history of art.

If you want to learn more about other works by Van Gogh, we recommend "Musée d'Orsay Art Guide", our book about the museum that houses the largest amount of Impressionist works in the world, as well as an essential art guide to discover and learn the essentials of the great works, artists and styles of the Musée d'Orsay, soon available on Amazon.

![](/images/1658496518-ee36268b.png)


The tortuous love life of Vincent Van Gogh through his artwork

Titian Vecellio was one of the most important painters of the Italian Renaissance and the greatest exponent of the Venetian school. Born into a wealthy family in Pieve di Cadore, near Venice, around 1490, Titian began his artistic training in the workshop of the Bellini brothers and later collaborated with Giorgione, with whom he developed a style characterized by the use of color and light.

It is known that the old Venetian master Titian lived more than 100 years, from 1474 to 1576, and it is known that he painted 400 paintings during his long career, of which 300 are preserved. His last painting was a very dark version of the Pietà, with which he intended to decorate his own tomb. Throughout his long career, which lasted until his death in Venice in 1576, Titian produced masterpieces in a variety of genres, including portraits, landscapes, religious and mythological scenes. Among his clients were the most powerful rulers of his time, such as Emperor Charles V, Pope Paul III and King Philip II of Spain, for whom he painted his famous "poesias", mythological scenes of lust, love stories and death.

The Prado Museum has the largest and best collection of works by Titian outside Italy, thanks to the close relationship that the painter maintained with the Spanish monarchy. Among the jewels that can be admired in the Madrid museum are some of his most emblematic portraits, such as that of Charles V on horseback in Mühlberg, that of Isabella of Este or that of Philip II.

![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s1lCySo2kSc/U8_yxnpz5mI/AAAAAAAAAg0/1G-1zCXNoZc/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/Imagen2.jpg)

*Charles V on horseback in Mühlberg, Prado Museum.*

His religious works also stand out, such as the Last Supper, the Dolorosa or the Penitent Magdalene, which show his ability to express the emotion and spirituality of the characters. Likewise, the Prado houses some of his most complex and original compositions, such as the Religión socorrida por España, the Gloria or the Entierro de Cristo.

But undoubtedly, the most outstanding and unique set that can be seen in the Prado are the "poems" that Titian made for Philip II between 1551 and 1562. These are six paintings based on classical sources, such as Ovid or Boccaccio, depicting mythological episodes with a high erotic and symbolic content. The works are: Danae receiving the golden rain, Venus and Adonis, Perseus and Andromeda, Diana and Actaeon, Diana and Callisto and the Rape of Europa.

These paintings are considered the pinnacles of Titian art and of the Renaissance in general, for their formal beauty, their chromatic richness, their narrative expressiveness and their conceptual innovation. Titian conceived these works as a harmonious whole to be contemplated in a private and intimate space, where the viewer could recreate himself in the stories and emotions they aroused.

![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Tizian_085.jpg/1200px-Tizian_085.jpg)

*Rapture of Europa, Prado Museum.*

The Prado managed to bring together for the first time since the 16th century the six "poetries" of Titian in a historical exhibition that could be visited until July 4, 2021. The exhibition allows us to appreciate the genius of the Venetian painter and his influence on later generations of artists. In addition, other works related to the "poetries" are exhibited, such as copies, engravings or paintings inspired by them.

Titian was an exceptional artist who masterfully captured reality and fantasy, the human and the divine, the sensual and the tragic. His work is a testimony to his long life dedicated to art and his ability to renew himself and adapt to the tastes and demands of his time. The Prado Museum offers a unique opportunity to know and enjoy this great master of the Renaissance, who continues to fascinate and excite art lovers.

If you want to know more about Rubens and his work, technical characteristics, data on Renaissance artists and, above all, information about the greatest works of art housed in the Prado Museum in Madrid, we recommend "The Prado Art Guide" [already available on Amazon by clicking here.](https://www.amazon.es/Museo-del-Prado-maestras-esenciales/dp/8418943378)

![](/images/1659105482.png)


Titian: a life of more than 100 years of art

Pedro Pablo Rubens was one of the most important and prolific painters of the 17th century, whose work covers various topics such as mythology, history, naturalism or religion. But besides being a great artist, Rubens was also a cult man and interested in science, especially astronomy. In some of his works, references and homage can be appreciated to the astronomical discoveries of his time, such as those made by Galileo Galilei with his telescope.

In this article, we will look at two examples of how Rubens embodied in his canvases his admiration for the cosmos and for the scientific advances that revolutionized the vision of the universe in the 17th century.

## The birth of the Milky Way

This work, which is in the Museo del Prado in Madrid, represents the myth of the origin of the Milky Way according to Roman mythology. According to Higginium's account in his Poeticon Astronomicon, the god Jupiter placed one of his bastard sons, Hercules or Mercury, in the breast of his wife Juno while she slept, so that she could drink from his milk and become immortal. When Juno woke up and realized the deception, he threw the child away from her and her milk poured out into the sky, forming the Milky Way.

![](/images/Rubens_V%C3%ADa_L%C3%A1ctea-b81cadfb.jpg)

Rubens recreates this moment with great mastery and beauty, but also introduces in the starry sky some celestial bodies that were observed by Galileo and that until then had passed unnoticed. Thus, we can see Saturn with its rings and moons, Jupiter with its moons or Venus with its phases. In this way, Rubens pays tribute to the Italian astronomer and his revolutionary telescope, which allowed him to discover these celestial phenomena.

## Saturn eating a son

This work, which is also preserved in the Prado Museum, is one of Rubens' most shocking and violent. It is based on the Greek myth of Cronus (Saturn in Roman mythology), the god of time who devoured his newborn children for fear of being taken from his throne. Only Zeus (Jupiter) was saved, who was hidden by his mother Rea and who later overthrew his father.

![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Rubens_saturn.jpg)

In this painting, Rubens shows Saturn with a fierce and desperate expression, holding one of his children with one hand and biting his head with the other. The blood splashes the body of the child and the face of the god. The background is dark and dark, but at the top there are three celestial lights that represent Saturn and its rings, as Galileo saw them for the first time. Again, Rubens gives a kiss to the astronomer and his telescope, which allowed him to observe this planet in more detail.

These are just two examples of how Rubens reflected in his work his relationship with astronomy and his admiration for the scientific discoveries of his time. Rubens was an artist who combined classical tradition with modern innovation, creating masterpieces that still fascinate us today.

If you want to know more information about Rubens and his work, technical features, data about Renaissance artists and, above all, information about the greatest works of art that houses the Prado Museum in Madrid, we recommend ["The Prado Art Guide" already available on Amazon by clicking here.](https://www.amazon.es/dp/8418943424/)

![](/images/1659105482.png)


Rubens: an astronomy enthusiast

Diego Velázquez is one of the most important painters in the history of Spanish and world art. His work reflects the reality of his time with incomparable mastery and originality. Velázquez was the court painter of Philip IV, but he was also an artist who knew how to capture the beauty and dignity of the most humble people. His influence extends to our days and many artists have admired and taken him as a reference.

In this article, we present some curiosities about the life and work of Diego Velázquez that you may not have known. From his early start in the art world to his trips to Italy, discover some of the most interesting details about one of the great geniuses of painting.

**1. He was baptized the same day he was born**

Velázquez was born in Seville on June 6, 1599, into a wealthy family of Portuguese origin. The same day of his birth, he was baptized in the church of San Pedro, which was common in that era due to the high infant mortality rate. His full name was Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez, although he is only known by his mother's surname.

**2. He married his master's daughter**

At the age of 11, Velázquez entered as an apprentice in the workshop of the painter Francisco Pacheco, one of the most prestigious in Seville. There he learned the techniques and principles of art, as well as the craft of painting. At the age of 19, he married Juana Pacheco, the daughter of his master, who was 15 years old. It was a marriage of convenience, very common among those who shared the same profession to protect their interests. Velázquez had two daughters with Juana: Francisca and Ignacia.

![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sEUe9MRSs_k/Vq49HOj40tI/AAAAAAAAC4k/KpelsQaCQgo/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/Retrato%2Bde%2BFrancisco%2BPacheco%2Bpor%2BDiego%2BVel%25C3%25A1zquez%2B%2528Museo%2Bdel%2BPrado%2529.jpg)

*Portrait of Francisco Pacheco, master of Velázquez.*

**3. He had several lovers and an illegitimate son**

Despite being married, Velázquez had several love affairs throughout his life. One of them was with an Italian model named Jerónima Montañés, with whom he had an illegitimate son whom he recognized and baptized as Antonio. It is believed that Jerónima is the woman who appears in the famous painting "The Venus of the Mirror", and that Antonio is the child who represents Cupid.

**4. He was appointed court painter at the age of 24**

In 1623, Velázquez traveled to Madrid for the first time, where he had the opportunity to paint the king, Philip IV. The monarch was so impressed with his talent that he appointed him his court painter, the highest position among the painters of the court. Velázquez moved to Madrid with his family and became the one in charge of painting the king, his family, and the most important figures in the kingdom. He also took care of overseeing the works of art that were purchased or commissioned for the palace.

**5. He traveled to Italy twice**

Velázquez made two trips to Italy, in 1629 and 1649, which were fundamental for his artistic training. In Italy, Velázquez was able to admire the works of the great masters of the Renaissance and Baroque, such as Raphael, Michelangelo, Titian, or Caravaggio. He was also able to paint some landscapes, portraits, and mythological scenes that allowed him to experiment with new themes and styles. Among the works he created in Italy are "The Forge of Vulcan", "The Robe of Joseph", or "The Portrait of Pope Innocent X".

![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Vel%C3%A1zquez_-_La_Fragua_de_Vulcano_%28Museo_del_Prado%2C_1630%29.jpg)

*The Forge of Vulcan, strongly inspired by Velázquez's travels to Italy.*

**6. He painted marginalized people with respect and dignity**

In addition to official portraits, Velázquez was also interested in painting the most humble and marginalized people in society, such as jesters, dwarves, beggars, or slaves. Far from ridiculing or pitying them, Velázquez treated them with respect and dignity, showing their humanity and their personality. Some examples of these works are "The Jester Don Diego de Acedo", "The Boy of Vallecas", or "The Slave Juan de Pareja".

**7. He was awarded the Order of Santiago**

Velázquez had a close relationship with King Philip IV, who appreciated and protected him. In 1658, the king awarded him the habit of the Order of Santiago, one of the most prestigious in Spain. This is a distinction that was awarded to knights who had demonstrated their valor and nobility. Velázquez added the Order of Santiago to his self-portrait in the painting "Las Meninas", as a symbol of his honor and status.

![](https://img2.rtve.es/i/?w=1600&i=1630997276806.jpg)
*Velázquez with the Cross of Santiago in the painting of Las Meninas.*

**8. He died of a fever after painting the king**

Velázquez died in Madrid on August 6, 1660, at the age of 61, from a fever he contracted after painting the king at the celebration of the Treaty of the Pyrenees. This treaty ended the war between Spain and France and meant the marriage of the daughter of Philip IV, María Teresa, to King Louis XIV.

**9. He was sued and convicted of embezzlement after his death**

In addition to being a painter, Velázquez was a royal official who was in charge of managing the works of art that were purchased or commissioned for the palace. However, it seems that he did not keep good records and that he spent more than he should have. After his death, he was sued for embezzlement and sentenced to pay a fine of 16,000 ducats. His son-in-law Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo, who was also a painter and had inherited his position, had to pay the debt.

**10. He was a reference for many later artists**

Velázquez's work has been admired and studied by many later artists, who have seen him as a master of realism, color, light, and composition. Among the painters who have been inspired by Velázquez are Goya, Manet, Picasso, Dalí, and Bacon. Some have made versions or reinterpretations of his most famous paintings, such as Las Meninas or Las hilanderas. Others have incorporated elements or features of his style into their own works.

We hope you enjoyed this article and that it has helped you to get to know Diego Velázquez, one of the most brilliant and influential painters in the history of art. If you would like to know more about Velázquez and his work, technical characteristics, information about Renaissance artists, and, above all, information about the greatest works of art housed in the Prado Museum in Madrid, we recommend The Prado Art Guide, which is now available on Amazon.

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10 incredible facts about Diego Velázquez

Murillo was one of the most outstanding painters of the 17th century in Spain. His work spans from religious topics to everyday scenes of Seville life, through portraits and landscapes. Its style is characterized by the use of vivid colors, the delicacy of the shapes and the expressiveness of the faces.

Murillo was born in Seville in 1617, to a humble family. He became an orphan at the age of ten and was trained as a painter with his brother-in-law Juan del Castillo, who taught him the techniques of Tenebrist naturalism. Later, he travelled to Madrid, where he met the work of Velázquez, which influenced him in his quest for light and realism.

Upon his return to Seville, Murillo mainly devoted himself to painting religious paintings for convent and churches. Among his most famous works of this period are the series of the life of the Virgin and of St. Francis of Assisi, which show his mastery in the treatment of fabrics, gestures and emotions.

<center>![](https\://www\.diariodesevilla.es/2021/04/23/ocio/detalle-image-facilitada-Christies_1567653405_137524617_667x375.jpg)</center>

*Detail of "St. Francis embracing Christ on the Cross".*

Despite the economic and social difficulties that the city was experiencing, Murillo managed to open his way into the art market and gain the favor of the most demanding customers. His style evolved from the first works of religious themes, with the influence of dark naturalism, to the last, more bright and colorful, with scenes of the popular life and of the childhood of Jesus and the Virgin. Among his most outstanding works are the pictorial series that he made for the convents of San Francisco and the Capuchins, the life cycle of Santa Maria la Blanca for the church of the same name, or the portraits of illustrious characters such as John of God or Nicholas Omazur.

Murillo was also a man committed to his time and to his city. He participated actively in the foundation of the Seville Academy of Fine Arts, where he served as president and professor. He also engaged in charity and charity, especially with poor and abandoned children. His generosity cost him his life, as he contracted a serious infection by falling from a staircase while painting a painting for the Hospital de la Caridad. He died in 1682, at the age of 64, leaving an incomparable artistic legacy and an indelible mark on the history of Seville.

In the 1660s, Murillo changed his style and oriented himself towards a more bright and colorful painting, with influences from Italian baroque and flamenco. His themes diversified and began to paint popular scenes, such as those known as "the children of Murillo", which represent poor children and beggars with great naturality and tenderness.

<center>![](https\://historia-arte.com/_/eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpbSI6WyJcL2FydHdvcmtcL2ltYWdlRmlsZVwvNWQ1ZTRmZTQ5Y2U5Ny5qcGciLCJyZXNpemVDcm9wLDYwMCwzMDAsNTAlLDQwJSJdfQ.VgG1x6NYQ_79BwyUik4ifYrKldnzigTavpdmMM6pE5o.jpg)</center>

*Detail of "Children eating Grapes and Melon".*

Murillo was also an excellent portraitist, able to capture the personality and character of his models. Among his most famous portraits are those of his patron Nicolas Omazur, the bishop Ambrosio Ignacio Spínola and the sculptor Pedro Roldán.

Murillo died in 1682, after falling while painting a painting. His artistic legacy was enormous and had many followers and admirers, both in Spain and in the rest of Europe. His work is preserved in museums such as the Prado, the Louvre, the National Gallery or the Hermitage. If you want to know more information about Murillo and his work, technical features, data about Renaissance artists and, above all, information about the greatest works of art that houses the Prado Museum in Madrid, we recommend ["The Prado Art Guide" already available on Amazon by clicking here.](https://www.amazon.es/dp/8418943424/)

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Murillo: a story of kindness and self-improvement

Did you know that the famous Black Paintings of Goya were not painted on canvas, but on the walls of a country house? In this article we tell you how the work of Goya de la Quinta del Sordo went from the wall to the canvas, the strappo and how it has affected the work that we know today.

## What are Goya's Black Paintings?

The Black Paintings are a set of 14 works that the Aragonese painter Francisco de Goya performed between 1819 and 1823, shortly before he exiled to France. These are large-format paintings, with dark colors and a dark theme, reflecting the mood of the artist in his last years of life.

Goya painted these works directly on the walls of his country house, called La Quinta del Sordo, located near the Manzanares River, on the outskirts of Madrid. There he lived with his key-keeper and possible lover, Leocadia Zorrilla, and his daughter Rosario. The house received this name because both Goya and the previous owner were deaf.

The Black Paintings were not conceived as a unitary set, but as a personal and intimate decoration for the two floors of the house. Goya left no document on the meaning or title of these works, which have been the subject of multiple interpretations. Some of the most well-known are Saturn eating his son, Duelo a garrotazos, El aquelarre or El perro semihundido.

<center>![](https\://historia-arte.com/_/eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpbSI6WyJcL2FydHdvcmtcL2ltYWdlRmlsZVwvZ295YS1lbC1hcXVlbGFycmUtbXVzZW8tbGEtemFyby1nYWxkaWFuby1tYWRyaWQtMTc5Ny05OC5qcGciLCJyZXNpemVDcm9wLDYwMCwzMDAsQ1JPUF9CQUxBTkN/FIl19.QkXJHx3wqVX-9XEhIYny2ws0C2CaE5E_GX7saTp4f_U.jpg)</center>

*Detail of El aquelarre, by Francisco de Goya.*

These paintings remained in the house until 1873, when Goya's grandson sold the property to a French banker named Frédéric Émile d'Erlanger. He commissioned the restaurator Salvador Martínez Cubells to remove the paintings from the walls and transfer them to canvas using the strappo technique.

## What's the strappo?

The strappo is a method that consists of applying a layer of animal tail on the pictorial surface, leaving it to dry and then clearing it carefully, taking the paint layer with it. Then paste this layer onto a new support, usually a canvas or board.

The strappo was an economical technique but also very harmful to the works, as it caused paint losses, deformations and cracks. In addition, the Black Paintings suffered other damage during their transfer to Paris, where they were exhibited in 1878, and their subsequent return to Madrid, where it was donated to the Prado Museum by Baron d'Erlanger in 1881.

![](https://estaticos.elmundo.es/assets/multimedia/imagenes/2016/11/11/14788882199113.jpg)

*Example of the strappo technique during the spoliation of the frescoes of Sijena.*

At the Prado Museum, the Black Paintings were restored by Martínez Cubells, who modified some details and filled the holes with new paint. These interventions altered the original appearance of the works and made it difficult to study and interpret them.

## The original Black Paintings were very different

Thanks to photographs taken by the Frenchman Jean Laurent in 1873, before the start of the paintings, it has been possible to compare the original state with the present state and appreciate the differences. For example, it has been discovered that Saturn had a more surprising and violent expression, that The Semi-Hunded Dog had more empty space above, or that The Aquarell had more figures in the background.

Laurent faced a difficult task, as he had to move all the equipment needed to take photographs with the wet colodium system, which required pre- and post-exposure chemical preparation. In addition, he had to illuminate the rooms with a new electrical system, as the natural light was insufficient to capture the details of the paintings.

![](https://cdn.zendalibros.com/wp-content/uploads/negativo-garrotazos.jpg)

*The famous painting 'Duelo a Garrotazos' in its original version did not show men buried.*

Thanks to these photographs, we can appreciate the differences between the original and current versions of the Black Paintings, which have been preserved in the Prado Museum since 1881. Some of these differences are:

*   The format: The original paintings were rectangular or square, with false frames painted by Goya himself. When they were made of canvas, the edges were cut and the corners rounded, altering the composition and balance of the works.

*   The color: The original paintings had a more varied and rich color range, with tones of red, green, blue and yellow. By passing them to canvas, some pigments were lost and barnices were applied that darkened and yellowed the works.

*   The color: The original paintings had a more varied and rich color range, with tones of red, green, blue and yellow. By passing them to canvas, some pigments were lost and barnices were applied that darkened and yellowed the works.

*   Details: The original paintings had more definition and expressiveness in faces, hands, objects and backgrounds. Some elements, such as the candles in El aquelarre, the dog in La romeria de San Isidro or the landscape in La leocadia, were erased or defumed when they were put on canvas.

These differences show us how the process of restoration and transfer altered the appearance and meaning of the Black Paintings, but also reveal the documentary and historical value of the photographs of Jean Laurent, which allow us to approach the original vision of Goya and admire his artistic genius.

![](https://cdn.zendalibros.com/wp-content/uploads/perro-semihundido-j-laurent.jpg)

*The famous Perro Semihundido originally had two birds flying.*

The Black Paintings are unique works in the history of art, showing Goya's personal and dramatic vision of the reality that surrounded him. Its transfer to the canvas meant a radical change in its form of presentation and preservation, which has affected its perception and valuation by the public and critics.

We hope this article has helped you to get to know black paintings and Goya, one of the most brilliant and influential painters in the history of art. If you want to know more information about Goya and his work, technical features, data about Renaissance artists and, above all, information about the greatest works of art that houses the Prado Museum in Madrid, we recommend ["El Prado Art Guide" already available on Amazon by clicking here.](https://www.amazon.es/dp/8418943424/)

![](/images/1.png)


The incredible change in Goya's Black Paintings: they have been repainted

Peter Paul Rubens was a painter of the 17th century, considered one of the highest exponents of the Baroque. His work covers a wide variety of themes, from religious to mythological, through portraits, landscapes and hunting scenes. His style is characterized by dynamism, color and sensuality, with a clear influence of Italian Renaissance painting, especially of Tiziano. Here are six interesting facts about his life and work:

## 1.He was born in Germany, but he studied and worked mainly in Antwerp.

Rubens was born in 1577 in Siegen, a German town where his father had fled for religious reasons. However, after his father's death in 1587, his mother returned with her children to Antwerp, where Rubens received a humanist education and began to art. There he was an apprentice of several local teachers, including Tobias Verhaecht, Adam van Noort and Otto van Veen. In 1600 he travelled to Italy, where he stayed eight years in the service of the Duke of Mantua and studied the works of the great Italian masters. On his return to Antwerp in 1608, he was appointed chamber painter of the Archdukes Albert and Elizabeth Clara Eugenia, governors of the Spanish Netherlands. Since then, his reputation and clientele have spread throughout Europe.

## 2. He was a successful diplomat and businessman.

In addition to being a painter, Rubens was a cult man and polyglot, who spoke at least six languages: Flemish, French, Italian, Latin, Spanish and English. This allowed him to carry out diplomatic missions for the Archdukes and for King Philip IV of Spain, with whom heined a close relationship. Among his diplomatic achievements is the signing of the Treaty of Antwerp in 1630, which ended the war between Spain and England. On the other hand, Rubens was a skilled art dealer, who knew how to take advantage of the international market and sell his works at high prices. He was also a collector and possessed a large number of paintings, sculptures, books and antiques.

![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Pieter_Paul_Rubens_-_Portrait_of_King_Philip_IV_%28Hermitage%29.jpg)

## 3. He led a prolific workshop with numerous collaborators.

The enormous demand for his works forced him to create a large workshop in which several disciples and assistants worked. Among them are Jacob Jordaens, Gaspar de Crayer and Anton van Dyck, who became their main collaborator and then their rival. The method of work consisted of Rubens making the small-scale sketches or models, which were then expanded and executed by his assistants under his supervision. Finally, he intervened to give the final retouches and to sign the work. Thus he was able to produce about 1500 paintings, in addition to drawings, engravings, tapestries and designs for other media.

## 4. He was the creator of "Rubenism", a style that exalts female beauty.

One of the most recognizable features of Rubens' painting is the representation of women with voluptuous, fleshly and sensual bodies, which contrast with the classical canons of ideal beauty. These women are known as "rubenesques" or "rubenians" and are the symbol of "rubenism", a term used to describe the taste for the lush and opulent in art. Some examples of this style are the Three Graces (1635), The Trial of Paris (1639) or The Kidnapping of the Daughters of Leucipe. (1618).

![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f5/The_Three_Graces%2C_by_Peter_Paul_Rubens%2C_from_Prado_in_Google_Earth.jpg/1200px-The_Three_Graces%2C_by_Peter_Paul_Rubens%2C_from_Prado_in_Google_Earth.jpg)

## 5. He married twice to women much younger than himself.

Rubens married in 1609 Isabella Brant, daughter of a prominent lawyer from Antwerp. She had three children: Clara Serena, Alberto and Isabel Elena. Isabella died in 1626 from the plague. Four years later, Rubens married Helena Fourment, the niece of his first wife and 37 years younger than him. She had five other children: Clara Juana, Francisco, Isabel Albertina, Pedro Pablo and Constancia Albertina. Helena was the muse and model of many of her works, such as The Straw Hat (1625), The Garden of Love (1633) or The Three Graces. (1635).

## 6. He died at the age of 62 from heart failure.

Rubens died on 30 May 1640 at his home in Antwerp, surrounded by his family. His health had deteriorated by gout, a disease that prevented him from painting normally. His body was buried in the church of Santiago, where he had designed his own chapel. Her tomb is adorned with a painting of her that depicts the Virgin and the Child with the saints George, Michael and Catalina.

If you want to know more about Rubens' paintings, technical characteristics, facts about Renaissance artists and, above all, information about the greatest works of art housed in the Prado Museum in Madrid, we recommend ["The Prado Art Guide" now available on Amazon by clicking here](https://www.amazon.es/dp/8418943424/).

![](/images/1659095223.png)

SOURCES:

*   [Peter Paul Rubens - 615 works of art - painting - WikiArt.org](https://www.wikiart.org/es/peter-paul-rubens)
*   [Peter Paul Rubens - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Pablo_Rubens)
*   [Peter Paul Rubens: the life and work of the influential Baroque painter](https://mymodernmet.com/es/pedro-pablo-rubens-pintura/)
*   [The Judgement of Paris - Collection - Museo Nacional del Prado](https://www.museodelprado.es/coleccion/obra-de-arte/el-juicio-de-paris/918bc2de-00a9-480d-87ba-96ac25f22bf4)
*   [The 4 most important WORKS of RUBENS - with IMAGES!!! - unPROFESOR](https://www.unprofesor.com/ciencias-sociales/rubens-obras-importantes-4781.html)



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