Our Art History Group met on Friday 06 February 2026 to continue its investigation into the Golden Age of Spanish Art with Jennifer. This time we started with a look at the Still Life paintings from the period.

Still Life is the portrayal of inanimate objects both natural and man-made in a pleasing arrangement. There are many portraits in Spanish art that contain elements of still life, but there turned out to be many that focus just on the inanimate objects and their arrangement. We saw details in the works of Velazquez, for example Christ in the House of Martha and Mary, and in Kitchen Maid with the Supper Emmaus. We saw the similar arrangements in the works of Zurbaran, portraying The Young Virgin Mary and in Christ and the Virgin in the House in Nazareth.

Francisco Zurbaran had done a series of still life paintings earlier in his career, for example A Cup of Water and a Rose, and Still Life with Lemons and Oranges. The theme had been taken up by his son Juan with Lemons in a Wicker Basket, and in Fruit and Flowers in a Chinese Bowl. Juan had continued with many paintings of fruit. We also saw works of Fede Galizia, Josefa de Obidos and Juan Sanchez Cotan, and his many paintings of Cardoons. We also saw the paintings of Jan van de Hamen where food seemed more important that flowers.

The paintings of grapes by Juan Fernandez were most realistic, making it appear as if they could be pulled from the canvas and eaten! Whilst Still Life abounds, Landscapes are comparitively few in number by Spanish artists, but Jennifer did manage to show us some, comparing the paintings to her photographs.

After a break for coffee and tea, Jennifer continued with an analysis of the lives of Diego Velazquez and Anthony van Dyck. They had never met in life, but their work had influenced each other. Our image of the Court in England during the reign of Charles I is largely due to van Dyck, and our image of the Court in Spain in the period is largely due to Velazquez. However, it is very possible that van Dyck and Bernini did meet. The Triple Portrait of Charles I had been intended to help Bernini create a bust of the king, and although one was created it was later lost in a fire. Other triple portraits were shown and conclusions drawn.

Our next meeting will be on Friday 20 February 2026 at 10:00am and will feature the work of Murillo.