EUROPASS: VISIT THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS OF VALENCIA

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Index

Get to know the Museum!

14th Century

15th Century

17th Century

18th Century

16th Century

20th Century

19th Century

Final activity

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14th Century

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Introduction

• The Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia is the second-largest pinacoteca in Spain, after the National Prado Museum.

• The Museum houses the most significant altarpiece collection in Europe.

• Founded in 1837, it resides in a beautiful 17th-century building that was once a convent.

• The museum's collection of artworks spanning from the 14th to the 20th century, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, prints, and decorative arts.

• It features renowned Spanish masters such as Velázquez, Ribera, El Greco, Goya, and Sorolla, among many others.

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Introduction

• Scenes from Sain Luke's life by the renowned catalan artist Llorenç Zaragozà is the oldest altarpiece of the museum (1363 - 1406).

• After the reconquest of the Spanish territory in the 13th century and the departure of the Muslims, art was used as a form of propaganda to Christianize the population. Therefore, the central theme of all artistic representations was religion.

• The main protagonist of this altarpiece is Saint Luke, the evangelist whom popular tradition has regarded as a painter, was soon designated as the patron saint of painters.

• In the last scene, Saint Luke is depicted facing the Virgin Mary, who is presenting him with her true image or portrait.

• This artwork holds great significance both in the history of Valencian art and in its religious symbolism.

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15th Century

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Introduction

• During the 15th century, known as the Golden Age of Valencia, European trade networks had a significant impact on the art of the city, promoting the exchange of ideas, styles, and artistic materials. Maritime trade and the mobility of artists contributed to enriching the local artistic production.

• The Seven Sacraments' altarpiece was created by the italian artist Gherardo Starnina between 1398 and 1400. It was commissioned by valencian Bonifacio Ferrer, responsible for the translation of the Holy Bible into Catalan. Click at "+ info" to find him depicted in the painting.

• The main aim of its central table was to present the liturgical theme of the seven sacraments (baptism, confirmation, holy orders, Eucharist, penance, matrimony, and anointing of the sick) and how the they are established through the blood that flows from the side of Christ.

• It reflects the need to remember that only through liturgy are the fruits of man's salvation transmitted.

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Introduction

• The Annunciation by Jaume Baçó, also known as 'Jacomart'.

• As we've seen in previous altarpieces, the Gothic style in 15th-century Valencian painting was characterized by several distinctive features:
• Meticulous detail and horror vacui
• Use of gold and vibrant colors: Gold was employed to highlight important areas and create a luminous and sumptuous effect.
• Elongated and stylized figures: This style was associated with the idea of idealized beauty and spirituality.
• Religious themes: Biblical scenes, episodes from the life of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and saints were represented.

• However, this work by Jacomart represents his intention to achieve a more naturalistic painting style that incorporated realism, detail, and fidelity in the painted figures.

• This marked the beginning of a new phase dominated by the Hispano-Flemish Gothic style, laying the foundations for the arrival of Renaissance painting in Valencia.

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Introduction

• On loan from the Guardans-Cambó family, this is the only portrait by Botticelli exhibited in Spain.

• The painting, by Sandro Botticelli (1490), portraits Michele Marullo Tarcaniota, a nobleman protected by the Medici family, a poet, and a soldier—a man of the Renaissance.

• The Renaissance was a time when society started to distance itself from the dominant influence of the Church. Instead, the focus shifted towards the importance of the individual and the exploration and celebration of human capabilities, intellect, and reason. This period was characterized by a cultural movement known as humanism.

• One notable aspect of the Renaissance was the emergence of powerful yet humanized portraits. Artists began to delve into the psychological aspects of their subjects, aiming to capture their character and individuality.

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16th Century

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17th Century

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Introduction

• Saint John the Baptist (1600-1605) by El Greco, a renowned painter of Greek origin who worked primarily in Spain during the late Renaissance and early Baroque period.

• He is famous for his distinctive elongated figures, elegance and spirituality, his color palette, and the emotive quality of his paintings.

• He was very influenced by Mannerism, an artistic style known for the use of:
• Distortion and exaggeration: distorted proportions and poses, creating unusual compositions and exaggerated gestures.
• Colorism and contrast: Intense use of color with bold combinations and great contrasts to create striking visual effects.
• Artificial nature: Mannerism explored a sense of artifice, moving away from the imitation of nature and focusing on inventiveness and originality in artistic representation.
• Emotion and drama: The aim was to convey a sense of emotional intensity and dramatic impact, often through exaggerated gestures and facial expressions.

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Introduction

• "The mystical weddings of the Venerable Agnesio" by Joan de Joanes, the most representative painter of the Renaissance in Valencia.

• In this painting, Joanes managed to combine the universality of the Italian Renaissance with the local character of his iconography by introducing the Venerable Agnesio, a man of great culture and sanctity who served as the tutor to the counts of Oliva (Valencia). His figure appears on the left, placing the betrothal ring on Saint Agnes.

• Renaissance style characterized by:

• Balanced and symmetrical compositions
• Use of perspective as a new system of visual representation.
• Preference for naturalistic and anatomical details, proportion, and chiaroscuro techniques to create illusions.
• Inspired in the humanist philosophy by emphasizing the relationship between the man, the world, God, and the universe.

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Introduction

• Saint Francis of Assisi Embracing the Crucified Christ (1620) by valencian painert Francisco Ribalta.

• Francisco Ribalta is one of the masters of the early Spanish Baroque. He was active in Valencia and was noted for his religious paintings of great mystical importance.

• The Barroque was very influenced by the Counter-Reformation that took place in the 16th and 17th, which was a response by the Roman Catholic Church to the Protestant Reformation.

• From the Counter-Reformation in XVII onwards, the Catholic Church turned art into a tool of propaganda in service of faith with.

• Baroque art was characterized by dynamism, tension, pessimism, dramatism, realism, and the use of light and shadow to create three-dimensional effects.

• Other contemporary exponents are Rembrandt, Velazquez, Ribera or Murillo.

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Introduction

• Heraclitus by José de Ribera (1630)

• José de Ribera, also known as "El Españoleto," was a prominent Spanish Baroque painter.

• He is renowned for his tenebrist style and his works depicting human figures, particularly religious scenes and portraits.

• In addition to his tenebrist style and mastery of chiaroscuro, Ribera stands out for his emotional expressiveness, particularly in portraying suffering, passion, devotion, and pain. Additionally, his naturalistic attention to anatomical detail enhances the sense of realism in his paintings.

• In this painting he portraits Philosopher Heraclitus, who is known for his focus on the constant change and the contradictory nature of the world, and for his conviction that conflict and opposition are essential parts of reality.

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Introduction

• The Busto Self-Portrait (1640) by Velázquez, it is, along with the self-portrait included in Las Meninas, the only autograph depiction of Velázquez preserved.

• Velázquez is considered one of the greatest exponents of Spanish painting of all time and a universal master.

• He played a significant role in the development of the Baroque style and is often regarded as the master of the Spanish Baroque period.

• At the age of 24 in Madrid, he was appointed as the painter of Felipe IV and later promoted to court painter, a role he dedicated the rest of his life to. He evolved from "tenebrism," influenced by Caravaggio, to a style characterized by great luminosity, with quick and loose brushstrokes, becoming a reference for the Impressionist movement.

• The austerity of this self-portrait seems to evoke the artist's contemplation of the traces of the passage of time on himself, as well as the awareness of the historical evolution of the Kingdom.

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Introduction

• Joaquina Candado Ricarte by Francisco de Goya

• Francisco de Goya started his career as a painter of portraits of the Spanish high society, successfully capturing the personality and psychology of his subjects in a realistic and detailed manner.

• As he developed as an artist, his style became darker and more expressive, reflecting his sharp observation of society and his critical view of the political and social events of the time.

• The origin of this painting has been associated with Goya's visit to Valencia in 1790. During the summer, Goya visited the city of Valencia so that his wife, Josefa Bayeu, could enjoy the sea air recommended for her health.

• During this trip, the Aragonese painter visited the Academy of San Carlos, where he participated in some drawing sessions and was named an honorary academician.

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18th Century

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Introduction

• Children's Game: The leap by Francisco Goya (1770-1780)

• At the end of the 18th century, Neoclassicism emerged as a reaction against Baroque and Rococo. As the name suggests, it drew inspiration from the forms of Greco-Roman classical art.

• The French Revolution of 1789 marked the end of the Ancien Régime and the power of the aristocracy. The bourgeoisie, who already held economic power, now gained political power as well. They became the new ruling class, and art adapted to their tastes.

• Filled with spontaneity and naturalness, this Goya-esque artwork depicts realistic customs and characters of the era. Goya presents a group of children with expressive faces, dressed in poor and tattered clothing. The architectural background is believed to contain Roman influences.

• The painting belongs to the period when Goya begins to achieve success. The color tones are still light, and the subjects are lighthearted, although he starts reflecting societal issues by portraying the lower classes of 18th-century Madrid.

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Introduction

• The Painter's Daughters in a Garden (1815-1816) by Zacarías González Velázquez.

• He was a chamber painter and academic at the San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Madrid, where he became director of painting and director general.

• Important group portrait of Spanish painter Zacarías González Velázquez, in which he skillfully captures the neoclassical style in portraying his daughters in a garden, adorned with French-style flowerbeds and trimmed hedges.

• The serene and expressionless gesture, along with the precise drawing and chromatic harmony applied to the dresses, are characteristic of this period of time.

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19th Century

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Introduction

• The Vision of the Colosseum. The Last Martyr (1885) by valencian artist José Benlliure Gil.

• José Benlliure settled in Rome in 1879, where he produced a significant portion of his pictorial work, including this monumental canvas.

• Awarded the first medal at the National Exhibition of 1887 and the grand gold medal at the International Exhibition in Munich in 1888, this artwork, represents a pivotal moment in Benlliure's aesthetic choices.

• Influenced by the Italian painter Domenico Morelli, Benlliure departed from genre painting to explore larger themes, reaching the highest levels of imagination.

• Set within a crumbling Colosseum, the scene portrays the apparition of the saint carrying a cross, surrounded by an imaginary procession of martyrs and virgins that appears to descend onto the arena of the amphitheater, creating a ghostly and dramatically intense vision.

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20th Century

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Introduction

• Marina (1907) by Joaquín Sorolla

• Joaquín Sorolla was a renowned Valencian painter recognized as one of the greatest exponents of Spanish Impressionism.

• Joaquín Sorolla is known for his vibrant and luminous paintings that often depict scenes of beaches, landscapes, and everyday life. He was particularly skilled in capturing the effects of light and color, creating vivid and atmospheric compositions.

• Apart from his mastery of landscape painting, Sorolla was also a skilled portraitist. He painted numerous portraits of prominent individuals, including royalty, politicians, and intellectuals of his time. His portraits are characterized by a keen attention to detail and an ability to capture the personality and inner essence of his subjects.

• This year 2023 has been declared as the "Joaquín Sorolla Year" in commemoration of the centenary of the death of the Valencian painter.

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Introduction

• Floreal (1915) by José Pinazo Martínez

• José Pinazo dedicated himself to painting scenes of everyday life and customs.

• With this canvas, which already exhibits a more modern pictorial language, he was awarded the First Medal at the National Exhibition of Fine Arts in 1915.

• The painting depicts a joyful procession of characters dressed in traditional Valencian costumes, heading towards a festive offering while carrying fruits and flowers from the land.

• The women portraited in this painting were all taken from the artist's immediate surroundings: his daughter María Teresa (the girl carrying flowers), his wife Magdalena Mitjans, his friend Emilio Marco, and three girls from Godella who frequently visited the Pinazo household.

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