ART SUNDAY - ZURBARÁN

For Art Sunday today, Francisco Zurbarán, a Spanish artist. He was born in the suburb of Fuente de Cantos in Estramadura, on the boundaries of Andalusia, Nov., 1598; died probably at Madrid about 1662. From his early years he showed great aptitude for drawing. His parents, honest peasants, placed no obstacle to his artistic tastes. While a young boy he frequented the studio of Juan de las Roclas, of whom he became a favourite pupil. Zurbarán's apprenticeship was undertaken in Seville, where he met Velazquez and became one of the city's official painters. His commission to decorate the king's palace in Madrid was most probably the result of his continuing friendship with the older, and more successful, Spanish artist.

Zurbarán was chiefly a portrait painter and his religious subjects, depicting meditating saints, found favour with southern Spain's clergy. From 1628, he worked on a number of paintings to be sent to monasteries in the Spanish colony of Guadalupe. After 1640 his austere, harsh, hard-edged style was unfavourably compared to the sentimental religiosity of Murillo and Zurbarán's reputation declined. In 1658, he moved to Madrid in search of work and renewed his contact with Velazquez. Zurbarán died in poverty and obscurity.

Rather than look at his religious paintings and portraits, I’m showing a single painting of Zurbarán, a still life. This is formal treatment of citrus fruit and blossoms with a solitary cup and saucer on the right. There is a symmetry and harmony of colours in this still life, with a quiet introspective air, perhaps sobered by the very dark background. Nevertheless the citrus fruits shine forth in glorious yellows and oranges and the delicate blooms that crown the basket of fruit seem to be dancing a merry jig on top of them. The wistful little rose next to the cup has a story to tell and one can imagine a scene full of drama in the same room where this tableau was standing.

Lemons
Basket of lemons
Smell of spring, summer blossom.
Bitter peel, sour flesh.