Begoña and I visited this morning Zurbarán: A new Perspective at the Musep Thyssen-Bornemisza, a highly recommended exhibition if you happen to be in Madrid from 9 June until 13 September 2015. Later on the exhibition will travel to the Museum Kunstpalast in Düsseldorf (Germany) where it will remain on display from 10 October 2015 to 31 January 2016.
The exhibition Zurbarán. A New Perspective, offers visitors a carefully chosen survey of the artist’s output, from his earliest commissions to key works from his mature period. The result is a new vision of this Spanish Golden Age painter from Extremadura through the presence of previously unexhibited canvases or ones recently rediscovered over the past few years and not previously seen in Spain. A contemporary of Velázquez, Zurbarán’s realistic but mystical vision and his unique manner of approaching his subject matter has made him a key artist whose importance was recognised by modern art trends of the 20th century. The exhibition juxtaposes his work with that of his most talented pupils, the latter shown together in one gallery, and with that of his son Juan de Zurbarán, represented by his sophisticated still lifes. Mythological compositions and portraits complete the extensive representation of religious works in the seven galleries of the exhibition, which is jointly curated by Odile Delenda, art historian and specialist in Zurbarán, and Mar Borobia, Head of Old Master Painting at the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. (Source: Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza)
The Spanish painter Francisco de Zurbarán, born in Fuente de Cantos (Extremadura) in 1598, did his apprenticeship in Seville from 1614 to 1616. He then returned to his native province and established himself in Llerena. Between 1626 and 1628, he received important orders from Seville convents. Invited by the City Council to reside in the capital of Andalucía, he became its most prestigious painter, cultivating a naturalistic style tinged with peacefulness which made him the ideal interpreter of life in a convent. Very early, he sold works to American colonies where they were highly valued. His tenebrism influenced by Ribera gradually softened towards the end of his life in order to adapt to the taste of the time. In 1658, he moved to Madrid where, in 1634, he had contributed to the decoration of the Royal Palace of Buen Retiro, undoubtedly at the request of the Count-Duke of Olivares, Philippe IV’s favourite. He died in 1664, at the royal court. He remains one of the great painters of the “Golden Age”, remarkable for the noble austerity of his compositions, the intensity of expression of his religious feelings, the rigor of the organisation of his still lifes and the attention he lavished on everyday objects, rendered with touching simplicity. (Source: Wildenstein Institute publications)
Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
Paseo del Prado, 8
28014 Madrid
www.museothyssen.org
Dates: From 09 June to 13 September 2015
Venue: Temporary Exhibitions Rooms Level 0
Opening times: Tuesday to Saturdays, 10am to 10pm
Mondays and Sundays 10am to 7pm.
For additional information click here.
A Crime is Afoot 
He is a wonderful painter. I did not know much about him, so it was good to find out more. I saw some of his works in an exhibition of Spanish religious art in the UK National Gallery in London, and was very impressed by them.
Appreciate your comment Moira and I’m glad you like him. This was quite an opportunity to see some of his paintings that are not in Spain.