Spain has a powerful tradition in art and has played a significant role in the history of western painting. The Spanish Golden Age was a period from around the early 16th century to the late 17th century. This age saw the nation flourishing in arts and literature and, among other things, becoming a significant contributor to the art world of Europe.
The best known Spanish artists of this era are:
- El Greco,
- Diego Velazquez,
- Zurbaran, as well as
- Murillo.
Francisco Goya, which is the most important Spanish artist of late 18th and early 19th centuries, is frequently seen as both the last of the Old Masters and the first of the moderns. Spanish artists have had a massive impact on modern art with some of the most prominent artists of the modern era. These include Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso as well as Salvador Dali all coming from Spain.
El Greco
Doménikos Theotokópoulos was born on 1 October 1541 in Crete. El Greco was his nickname, referencing the artist’s home country of Greece. Even with his Greek origins, he was considered to be a principal member of the Spanish Renaissance.
El Greco trained and mastered post-Byzantine art before he travelled to Venice at the age of 26, a traditional tour for young Greek artists at the time. He then moved to Rome and opened a workshop in 1570. During this time, El Greco started incorporating the styles of contemporary artists such as Mannerism as well as elements of the Venetian Renaissance.
Salvador Dali
Salvador Dali is not just one of the most celebrated Spanish artists however also one of the pioneers of surrealism in painting. He was responsible for influencing many modern artists to move out from repetitive and traditional styles and begin creating something truly unique. In 1916 Dali’s parents saw his talent and admitted him into a drawing school.
In 1919 his father organised his first exhibition and in 1922 Dali began studying at the Art Institute in Madrid. Here, he was introduced to Cubism and Dadaism. But in 1923 he was expelled from the academy for anti-establishment activities. Dali returned to the academy in 1926 but was suspended again for his cynic attitude towards teachers. After that, he went to Paris and met Picasso.
In Paris he painted one of his most famous paintings entitled The Persistence of Memory in 1931. Later on, he returned back to Spain where he worked for the Museum and Dali Theatre in his hometown of Figueres.
Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso isn’t just one of the most famous Spanish artists in history, he is one of the best-known artists during the entire history of art. He’s as popular as online casinos in the Philippines and was an extremely versatile artist who excelled at producing paintings, sculptures, prints, ceramics, and theatre designs, making him one of the most prominent artists of the 20th century. Picasso was a pioneer of the Cubist artists who dominated the world of art in the early 20th century. He was a child prodigy and spent most of his artistic life in France.
