Spanish Art

Question 1

Answer 1

José de Ribera, Martyrdom of Saint Philip,

oil on canvas, ca. 1639

• spanish artist from modern day Spain
• inspired by Carvaggio’s painting

-the setting made it different from Carvaggio
(outdoor scene; no official lighting)

• used darker pallete
• Value of sacrifice
• used emotion and dramatic scene
• commissioned by the KIng of Spain

–brutal image

• shows realism (you could see that St. Philip is suffering; he looks afraid)
• the woman in the background can be charity

Question 2

Answer 2

Diego Velázquez, Water Carrier of Seville,

oil on canvas, ca. 1619

• most famouse Spanish artist
• official court painter
• painting right before he became the court painter
• depicting ordinary life
• water carrier selling water for those who are thirsty on a hot sunny day
• The guy who has rugged clothes is the water-carrier & the kid buying a glass of water looks like he came from a rich family.
• cathces light in the glass; its glistening
• the vase have different texture. One looks like matted and the other is glossy

-The guy in the center makes the painting like the secular allegory of the ages of man (passage of time)
(young, middle aged, old man)

-can transform any subject to make it engaging

Question 3

Answer 3

Diego Velázquez, King Philip IV of Spain,

oil on canvas, 1644

• painted an image of Philip the IV holding a map and a hat
• he put so much detail on the clothes of the King to make up for the facial part
• painted during their excursion and Diego Velazquez came with the King to that journey

Question 4

Answer 4

Diego Velázquez, Las Meninas,

oil on canvas,

1656

• Ladies in waiting (Las Meninas)
• 10 1/2 ft tall & 9ft across
• depiction of artist in the studio
• Velazquez is looking at us holding the pallete
• the little girl in the middle is the princess; the ladies surrouding are the maids; the other 2 close to the dog is are the court dwarves; the guy at the door step is the personal sevant of Velazquez
• Velasquez is precise that he showed the painting in the palace
• looked like a snap shot of the present moment
• it looks spontaneous

makes us feel that we are part of the scene

• The princess and Velazquez are looking at the arrival of the King and Queen. You could see their reflection in the mirrow behind. You stop everything you do if the Kkign and Queen arrives to show respect
• a lot of black and white; very complex image that has an element of reality
• Velasquez is highlighting his status as being a royal member