Francisco de Zurbarán

Francisco de Zurbarán (1598-1664). Aside from producing a number of history paintings, portraits and still lifes, the Spanish Baroque painter Francisco de Zurbarán devoted his career almost entirely to religious works. Due to his preference for chiaroscuro his style was often compared to that of Caravaggio. The artist’s favorite subjects were religious figures – apostles, saints, monks and madonnas – posed against neutral backgrounds. Zurbarán paid particular attention to the natural effect of lighting and the details of dress. He was applauded for his ability to combine realism with mysticism, bringing a degree of accessibility to spiritual otherworldliness.