17th-Century Spanish Pictorial Works

Martyrdom of St. Philip

Artist: José de Ribera

This work depicts the martyrdom of St. Philip. The composition is vertically oriented with horizontal planes. Light falls directly onto St. Philip and his executioners. St. Philip's body displays anatomical detail. His serene face and strained muscles add realism to the image. The piece showcases Ribera's study of light and shadow and his naturalistic style.

Still Life

Artist: Francisco de Zurbarán

This still life emphasizes the quality of the objects, highlighting the textures of fabrics, ceramics, clay, glass, and metal against a dark, matte background. The tenebrist style uses direct light on the objects, creating a strong contrast of light and shadow. The drawing is precise, and the composition features a few carefully arranged objects, predominantly white.

The Drunkards

Artist: Diego Velázquez

This genre painting depicts a scene of drunkards in the countryside. It portrays an everyday scene, not a frightening one, but with a contrast of light and shadow. Velázquez uses loose brushwork and a brighter palette. The work emphasizes still life elements and the qualities of both clothed and nude figures. It represents objects and explores themes of youth and old age, idealized beauty, and realistic portraiture.

The Waterseller of Seville

Artist: Diego Velázquez

This painting utilizes chiaroscuro and detailed rendering of objects. It is an allegory of the three ages of man: childhood, youth, and maturity, with old age represented by the figure in the background and on the right. The scene is set in a tavern with sharp, lifelike objects.

The Surrender of Breda (Las Lanzas)

Artist: Diego Velázquez

This historical painting depicts a moment of war between Spain and the Netherlands. The composition is balanced, showcasing technical perfection. The scene is set in a landscape with aerial perspective and linear representation of the figures. The viewer is drawn into the scene. Velázquez's loose brushwork captures the quality of the fabrics. A foggy landscape adds depth, and light and color play important roles.