Sorolla

The death of Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida removed the conceded leader of contemporary Spanish painting, and one of the most notable figures of the art world. Born in Valencia in 1863, he received his art education at the San Carlos Academy in his native town, from Francisco Pradilla in Madrid, and later in Italy and Paris. His first striking success was Another Margaret, awarded a gold medal at Madrid and purchased for the St. Louis Gallery. He soon became internationally known, his exhibit at the Paris Exposition of 1900 winning him the medal of honor. He also had a special exhibition at Paris in 1906, which made him an Officer of the Legion of Honor, and he shared with Zuloaga an exhibit which traveled over the United States about ten years ago, introducing him widely to the American public.

Sorolla was an accomplished portrait painter, but his special eminence comes from his handling of sunlight and water in combination. His figure pieces at the seashore are full of flowing line, quivering color, spacious luminosity. Typifying these qualities are the fine group in the Metropolitan, including Swimmers, full-length nude boys seen through transparent green water; After the Bath, a young woman emerging from the sea in a clinging yellow bathing suit, while her swain stands behind, holding a white sheet in which to wrap her; Beaching the Boat, Valencia, peasant sailors guiding three yoke of brown oxen, dragging the full-bellied sailboat through the surf. Sorolla is also represented in the Luxembourg, the Berlin National Gallery, the Venice, Madrid and Buenos Aires Museums, the Chicago Art Institute, and in many private collections of the United States and Europe. But his crowning work is the great series in the Hispanic Museum, New York, completed just before the paralytic stroke which ended his painting days in 1920. This consists of a Panorama of the 49 Provinces of Spain, representing scenery, costumes and customs of each province. These were brought to America in 1922 by the painter's son, and will form a permanent monument in the New World to the memory of this joyous genius of the Old.