THE SPANISH GOLDEN AGE
Painting in Spain flourished during the 17th century, principally in the service of God and King. Following the Protestant Reformation, the Catholic Church sought to inspire devotion through powerful, often intensely naturalistic images of biblical figures and stories. Artists depicted saints as ordinary people with a strong physical presence and vivid facial expressions.
A variety of powerful, individual painting styles emerged. At the court of Philip IV of Spain in Madrid, Diego Velázquez developed a sophisticated technique of loose, confident brushwork to portray the dignity and splendour of the monarchy. In Seville, Francisco de Zurbarán used life-size figures and dramatic lighting to make the mystical feel real and immediate. By mid-century, there was a marked shift in taste and Bartolomé Esteban Murillo's paintings, with their soft forms and gentle mood, became extremely popular.