JOAQUIN SOROLLA

I fall in love with new artists all the time, but I am sure that this love-affair will stay with me for the rest of my life.

His name is Joaquín Sorolla.

AUTORRETRATO, 1915

Self Portrait
Joaquín Sorolla (February 27, 1863 – August 10, 1923) was a Spanish painter, born in Valencia, who excelled in the painting of portraits, landscapes, and monumental works of social and historical themes.

BANISTAS EN VALENCIA, 1910

Bathers at Valencia

-currently hanging in my office at Sotheby's-

He received his initial art education, at the age of fourteen, in his native town, and then under a succession of teachers including Cayetano Capuz, Salustiano Asenjo. At the age of eighteen he traveled to Madrid, vigorously studying master paintings in the Museo del Prado. After completing his military service, at twenty-two Sorolla obtained a grant which enabled a four year term to study painting in Rome, Italy, where he was welcomed by and found stability in the example of F. Pradilla, the director of the Spanish Academy in Rome. A long sojourn to Paris in 1885 provided his first exposure to modern painting; of special influence were exhibitions of Jules Bastien-Lepage and Adolf von Menzel. Back in Rome he studied with José Benlliure, Emilio Sala, and José Villegas.

MI ESPOSA E HIJAS, 1915

My Wife and Daughters
In 1888 Sorolla returned to Valencia to marry Clotilde García del Castillo, whom he had first met in 1879, while working in her father's studio. By 1895 they would have three children together: Maria, born in 1890, Joaquín, born in 1892, and Elena, born in 1895. In 1890 they moved to Madrid, and for the next decade Sorolla's efforts as an artist were focused mainly on the production of large canvases of Orientalist, mythological, historical, and social subjects, for display in salons and international exhibitions in Madrid, Paris, Venice, Munich, Berlin, and Chicago.
OTRA MAGUERITTE, 1892
Another Magueritte
His first striking success was achieved with Another Marguerite, which was awarded a gold medal at the National Exhibition in Madrid, then first prize at the Chicago International Exhibition, where it was acquired and subsequently donated to the Washington University Museum in St. Louis, Missouri.
REGRESO DE LA PESCA, 1894
Return from Fishing
He soon rose to general fame and became the acknowledged head of the modern Spanish school of painting. His picture The Return from Fishing was much admired at the Paris Salon and was acquired by the state for the Musée du Luxembourg. This indicated the direction of his mature output.
TRISTE HERENCIA , 1899
Sad Inheritance
An even greater turning point in Sorolla's career was marked by the painting and exhibition of Sad Inheritance, an extremely large canvas, highly finished for public consideration. The subject was a depiction of crippled children bathing at the sea in Valencia, under the supervision of a monk. The painting earned Sorolla his greatest official recognition, the Grand Prix and a medal of honour at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1900, and the medal of honour at the National Exhibition in Madrid in 1901.
EL MERCARDO DE PESCA, 1900
The Fish Market
An even greater turning point in Sorolla's career was marked by the painting and exhibition of Sad Inheritance, an extremely large canvas, highly finished for public consideration. The subject was a depiction of crippled children bathing at the sea in Valencia, under the supervision of a monk. The painting earned Sorolla his greatest official recognition, the Grand Prix and a medal of honour at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1900, and the medal of honour at the National Exhibition in Madrid in 1901.
TRES VELAS, 1903
Three Sails
While in England in 1908 Sorolla met Archer Milton Huntington, who made him a member of The Hispanic Society of America in New York City, and invited him to exhibit there in 1909. The exhibition comprised 356 paintings, 195 of which sold. Sorolla spent five months in America and painted more than twenty portraits.
IL BAUTIZO, 1900
The Christening
Sold at Sotheby's London through my department last June for $1,203,497.00
After his death, Sorolla's widow left many of his paintings to the Spanish public. The paintings eventually formed the collection that is now known as the Museo Sorolla, which was the artist's house in Madrid. The museum opened in 1932. After his death, Sorolla's widow left many of his paintings to the Spanish public. The paintings eventually formed the collection that is now known as the Museo Sorolla, which was the artist's house in Madrid. I recently took a trip there during my studyabroad program in Florence, Italy but only had two days to experience the beautiful city. Also, the Prado Museum was closed! For any art lover, traveling to Madrid and not seeing the collection in The Prado is a sin. I have made a promise to myself to travel to Madrid again in the future to see the Prado and the Sorolla collections.