| Francisco de Zurbaran (1598 to 1664) was a typical Spanish artist of his era. Zurbaran was known primarily for his classic Spanish style, religious piety, monastic patronage and religious subjects. However, Zurbaran has also been historically and consistently recognized as a master of still life. This is extraordinary because Zurbaran only signed one pure still life that is contemporarily acknowledged as his, with few others attributed to him. Other still life can be found in his figural paintings as incidental or symbolic and has attracted much attention. However, as an acknowledged master of the genre, the glaring absence of pure still life from his large body of work bears closer examination. This study examines the foundations of still life as a genre, its development in Spain in the mid-seventeenth century, and disseminates the facts and opinions offered over the centuries concerning Zurbaran as a master of still life. |
