Sorolla: Artist of Diversity
We are pleased to write regarding the subject of our most recent acquisition: Joaquin Sorolla, by Blanca Pons-Sorolla. This is a review and evaluation summarizing the leading opinions not only of Sorolla, his life and works, but also the macro trends in the arts in his lifetime that influenced his works, and how he influenced them. We also explore the trends in the arts, in the twentieth century, that relegated many of the most influential greats of the nineteenth century to obscurity; until their increasingly strong resurgence in the latter part of the twentieth century to present day.
Portrait of Carlos Urcola Ibarra with his Daughter
Joaquin Sorolla is widely regarded as one of the greatest natural painters of all time. Yet he was also highly diverse in his styles, subject matter, and perspectives. Manet, Sargent, and Zorn saw his painting as–the way forward.
He was rewarded with many prestigious awards, culminating with the ‘Grand Prix’ in 1900 at the Universal Exhibition in Paris—the first for a Spaniard. Highly regarded throughout the art world for his mastery of light and color, he also earned the highest praises and respect from many of the greatest masters of his time—even from the leaders of his few detractors. Even the Impressionists, who’s entire ‘movement’ was based on experimenting with and manipulating the affects of light and color, and who studied and were influenced by the scientific and technological advances of the subjects, held him in high regard. In 1906, during Sorolla’s Paris Exhibition, Camille Mauclair, chief historian of and apologist for French Impressionism, wrote: “Artists of France, I beg you to visit this exhibition, where you will learn all the lessons of ‘plein-air;’ line, colour, impasto, and originality.” In the same year, Henri Rochefort wrote of Sorolla’s work: “Never has a brush contained so much sunlight. Never before have the ochres and wet greens of the rock been placed under the sky with such intensity. This is not Impressionism but it is incredibly impressive.”
Joaquin Sorolla was the first born child to a tradesman by the same name, and his wife, Concepcion Bastida in February 1863. A year later his sister Concha was born, and in 1865, the infants were adopted by their maternal aunt after both of their parents died of cholera.
He began his formal training, at the age of fourteen, in his native town, and then under a succession of teachers including Cayetano Capuz and Salustiano Asenjo. At eighteen, he studied the masters in Madrid at Museo del Prado. At twenty-two, having completed his military service, he received a grant for four years of study in Rome, Italy, where he was welcomed by F. Pradilla, the director of the Spanish Academy in Rome. In 1885, he studied in Paris where he was exposed to modern painting and was influenced by Jules Bastien-Lepage and Adolf von Menzel. Back in Rome he studied with José Benlliure, Emilio Sala, and José Villegas.
He painted in many styles and genres, including landscapes, seascapes, history and portraits, addressing equally many subjects ranging from tragedies of the world to children playing at the beach—their qualities range from classical realism to surrealistic avante garde. For example, Portrait of the Photographer Christian Franzen, 1903, and Mi Famiglia, 1901. Modernism is often described as “Art about art.” In both cases they are portrayals of artists, by other artists and themselves. In both cases they are in the act of producing art, and in Mi Famiglia, even Sorolla’s boy is drawing his sister simultaneously, as his eldest sister is either looking on or guiding him. Among other intertwining themes, there is a real story being told. Some suggest this demonstrates how he was influenced by Velasquez. The Portrait of Carlos Urcola Ibarra with his Daughter, and My Children, 1904 both have a dreamy, angelic and somehow surrealist sense to them. In both, the subjects are painted in realist detail, yet the backgrounds are very painterly, and divine. In My Children in particular, the lighting of the subjects bear a striking contrast to the darkly lit room, and the girl’s dresses seem to melt and meld together and his boy appears almost holographic.
Purchase Joaquin Sorolla authored by Blanca Pon-Sorolla from our online book store.
Mi Familia
Portrait of the Photographer Christian Franzen
My Children
Purchase Joaquin Sorolla authored by Blanca Pon-Sorolla from our online book store.
Though portraiture and history paintings were not his passion, as they limited his creative needs, he learned the former could be lucrative and the latter necessary to obtain the “requisite” awards, such as those granted at the Exposicion Nacional de Bellas Artes, which favored depictions of historical events. As for his portraits, he clearly loved painting his family, and his career in this genre, as with his other pursuits, culminated at the very top with the portrait of Mr. Taft, President of the United States, painted at the White House, and suggestive of convivial sessions between painter and president. As for his career as a salon artist: he learned in 1881 at his first entry to the Exposicion Nacional de Bellas Artes that his paintings of choice, seascapes, did not appeal to the tastes of the judging panel. And hence, he turned the following year to study the great masters Goya, Velasquez and Ribera. For his next submission, he employed these studies and appealed to the panel’s tastes and sensibilities with The Second of May, 1808, his first large canvas painted entirely outdoors, and which earned him Second-Class Medal at the Nacional Exposicion Nacional de Bellas Artes de Madrid, and which was purchased by the provincial government for 3,000 pasetas—a year’s income! Additionally, he won a 3 three year grant to study in Rome, which included a 3,000 paseta per year stipend. And finally, he began courting his beloved Clotilde, the third of his patron and protector Antonio Garcia’s five children. Next stop: Rome!
Please look for our next entry for continued coverage of Sorolla.
Purchase Joaquin Sorolla authored by Blanca Pon-Sorolla from our online book store.
Study Sorolla’s life and works further with our most recent monograph on the artist. Written by Blanca Pons-Sorolla, the artists great grand daughter and foremost authority on Joaquin Sorolla–it is a beautiful work in and of itself. It is very well written and organized, taking the reader on an often moving path through the author’s life and works, his development and progression as a painter, and struggles as a man. Pons-Sorolla further offers interesting and unique perspectives of the political and cultural environments in Europe from Sorolla’s viewpoint as a Spaniard, and how his viewpoints affected his life and work. It also includes a detailed chronology for quick reference for comparison studies.
Read part two of this post HERE.
February 19, 2010
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Sorolla: Diverse Artist Part Two | Barnsite Blog - March 15, 2010
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