Overview

Francisco de Zurbaran, master of Spain's Golden Age, painted with unmatched stillness and intensity. Famed for his monks, saints and martyrs, he also created mesmerizing still lifes, making fabrics shimmer and fruit glow with quiet presence. This book explores how Zurbaran's art captures the spiritual inwardness of seventeenth-century Spain, placing him within the mystical and contemplative culture of his time. It also explores Zurbaran's engagement with Seville's transatlantic art market and how his devotional paintings offered visual consolation at moments of national crisis. Challenging the limits of genre, Zurbaran's style reveals a distinctive 'still-life aesthetic' across his work - deeply meditative, hauntingly beautiful and spiritually attuned. A major reappraisal of a canonical painter, this book situates Zurbaran as one of early modern Europe's most powerful artists.

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9781836391753

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Reviews

With words of stillness, clarity and simplicity, perfectly complementing the images of Zurbarán himself, Robbins deftly unveils the occluded mysteries of this supreme master of Spanish piety. * David Howarth, Emeritus Professor of Baroque Art, The University of Edinburgh *

""A perfect gateway into the world of Zurbarán, this book captures the essence of one of Seville's greatest painters, celebrated for his stark, moving depictions of monastic life in seventeenth-century Spain. It invites readers not only to appreciate his mastery of light and realism but also to seek out his works at the Museo del Prado and the Monastery of Guadalupe, where the quiet spirituality of his paintings can be felt most deeply.""--Xavier Bray, Director of the Wallace Collection, London ""With words of stillness, clarity and simplicity, perfectly complementing the images of Zurbarán himself, Robbins deftly unveils the occluded mysteries of this supreme master of Spanish piety.""--David Howarth, University of Edinburgh ""Francisco de Zurbarán and the Fabric of the World presents an intriguing approach through the materiality and genres of painting, offering a journey through the artist's entire career and emphasising the importance of the study of matter and the monumentalisation of still life through textures. This is an original approach that undoubtedly provides an interesting perspective in visual culture for discovering the Spanish artist and explaining his work.""--Benito Navarrete Prieto, University of Madrid

Author Information

Jeremy Robbins is Emeritus Forbes Professor of Hispanic Studies at the University of Edinburgh. His books include Incomparable Realms: Spain during the Golden Age, 1500–1700 (Reaktion, 2022).

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