From 1450-1650, paintings of ‘Christian sibyls’ who foretold the birth of Christ, became important motifs for painting. Here’s a selection.
Velázquez
He made friends with Rubens, who helped him improve his narrative painting, and them travelled to Italy, where he painted the first plein air oil sketches in European art.
Early religious works, including a wonderful Adoration, the famous Waterseller, and three portraits, including Philip IV.
Two of Velázquez’ teachers, Herrera and Pacheco, his rival at court, the Italian Vicente Carducho, and his successor, Murillo. Paintings of a Golden Age.
Some works by artists of the Spanish Golden Age, including El Greco, Jusepe de Ribera, Zurbarán, and a guest appearance from Rubens and polychrome wood carving.
First in a new series concentrating on his non-portrait works, starting with these lightly humorous genre scenes with which he launched his career.
How the term spinster came about, the thread of life, the feminisation of Hercules, and Velázquez’ baffling Las Hilanderas.
Plans to celebrate anniversaries of major painters, series on narrative paintings, and more, for the coming year.
Some delightful gardening and rural tales, and a couple of views of the gardens of Rome. It seems that he retired after about 1922.
The standard blue pigment for the Renaissance and on, until about 1710, it was used in many Old Masters before disappearing by 1800.
The Eclectic Light Company 