JOAQUIN SOROLLA

JOAQUIN SOROLLA’S PAINTINGS ARE THE SUBJECT OF AN EXHIBITION AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY IN LONDON UNTIL JULY 7 2019

ROSES GROWING ON THE SOROLLA’S HOUSE IN MADRID 1918

SOROLLA, BORN IN 1863, WAS A CONTEMPORARY OF SARGENT AND SEROV BUT HIS WORKS ARE MORE APPEALING AND IMMEDIATE

A REASON MIGHT BE HIS PERSONAL HISTORY. HE WAS BORN INTO A MODEST FAMILY IN VALENCIA AND WAS ORPHANED AT 2 YEARS OLD. HE AND HIS SISTER WERE BROUGHT UP BY THEIR UNCLE AND AUNT

HE MET HIS FUTURE WIFE CLOTILDE WHEN HE WAS 17 AND SHE WAS 15. THEY MARRIED 9 YEARS LATER, HAD 3 CHILDREN AND WERE A VERY CLOSE FAMILY

HIS PAINTINGS CELEBRATE THE JOY OF LIVING

SOROLLA WORKING IN BRIGHT SUNSHINE ON ‘LA MALVARROSA’ BEACH OF VALENCIA IN 1909

SOROLLA WAS A YOUNG TALENT. HE STARTED LOOKING AT VELASQUEZ AND EXPLORING HIS PAINTING OF SHADOW

AROUND THE AGE OF 30 HE STARTED PAINTING IN VERY BRIGHT SUNLIGHT: NOT EVENINGS, NOT MID-SEASON, BUT MID-DAY IN SPANISH SUMMER

THE EFFECT IS DAZZLING

DETAIL OF ‘THE HORSE’S BATH’ THAT SOROLLA IS PAINTING IN THE PHOTO ABOVE

2 X 2.5 M CANVAS SIZE (MUSEO DEL PRADO)

SOROLLA’S BOLD DESIGN AND TECHNIQUE SURPASS THOSE OF HIS BELLE-EPOQUE CONTEMPORARIES WHILST ALSO BEING MORE APPROACHABLE

THEY ARE OF ORDINARY PEOPLE AND PRIVATE MOMENTS, LIKE APPLYING PERFUME AFTER BATHING, OR DRESSING WITH A FRIEND IN A BEACH HUT

INTIMATE MEMORIES RATHER THAN POSED PAINTINGS

‘THE PINK ROBE’ 1916 2.08 X 1.26 M. A COUPLE DRESSING IN A BEACH CABIN (MUSEO SOROLLA, MADRID)