ART SAVES SPANISH TOWN AND SURPRISES THE WORLD!
Looking for an inspiring story? How about the unique concept of an "open-air" art gallery that transformed a deprived village of 323 inhabitants in the Spanish province of Castellón, and is now part of a worldwide circuit of street art exhibitions?
THE MYSTERY OF EL GRECO'S PAINTING OF SAINT SEBASTIAN
In his illustrious career, El Greco painted Saint Sebastian three times. The last of his three portraits from 1610 to 1614 found its way into the Prado Museum - but in two parts. Why?
Report by Karla Darocas, Hons. B. A. (KarlaDarocas.com) for SpainLifestyle.com
EL GRECO'S TINY TRIBUTE TO THE FATHER OF THE SACRED FAMILY
Why is El Greco's painting, the Flight into Egypt, c. 1570, so special? It is only a small oil painting on a prepared pine panel. It is mainly a landscape depiction with the Holy Family as figures in it. It shows El Greco's newly acquired knowledge of the Venetian style of painting, which was popular at the time due to the great Venetian master Titian.
A TRIBUTE TO A VICTORIOUS VALENCIANO - José de Ribera (1591-1652)
When I lived in Xàtiva in 2001, the town where my husband was born, I walked past the statue of José de Ribera every day. Our flat was on the same street as the basilica and the old hospital where my husband was born, and at the other end was the statue of José de Ribera, or Jusepe, as he is called in the Valencian language.
José de Ribera was born in Xàtiva in 1591. His father was Simón Ribera, a shoemaker by trade, and his mother was Margarita Cucó. Although there are many documentary and bibliographical sources describing many aspects of Ribera's life and work, there is nothing about his childhood and youth in Xàtiva.
FAMOUS ANCIENT VALENCIANOS - Peter Paschal
Painting by Valencian Master * Jerónimo Jacinto de Espinosa |
Peter Paschal was born in Valencia on the east coast of Spain in 1227. Peter's parents were devout Mozarabites (Iberian Christians) who lived under Muslim rule and paid an annual tax called the jizyah. The Mozarabites and the Muslim Arabs lived side by side and even spoke a similar language, Mozarabic. Let us learn more about this interesting historical era.
A GENUINE MIRACLE OF NATURE * La Mujer Barbuda by Jusepe de Ribera
Since returning from our fabulous four-day SpainLifestyle Baroque & Renaissance Road Trip, many of my friends and colleagues have asked me what the highlight of the trip was?
While there were many personal highlights, from an artistic and academic perspective, I think it was the painting La Mujer Barbuda by Jusepe de Ribera at the Prado Museum in Madrid, which I finally got to see up close. It had recently been transferred to the Prado from the Museo Fundación Lerma in the Hospital de Tavera in Toledo.
Report by Karla Ingleton Darocas, Hons.B.A. for SpainLifestyle.com
THE ORIGIN OF COCA-COLA IS SPANISH?
A small Valencian family distillery in the old stables of the Palau del Marquès de Malferit, could be the origin of one of the emblems of capitalism: Coca-Cola. At least that's what every visitor who drives through Aielo de Malferit, a municipality of almost 5,000 inhabitants in the Vall d'Albaida, believes. There, it is claimed that an ancient drink still marketed in the region, Nuez de Kola-Coca, inspired pharmacist John Pemberton to invent the famous American soft drink in 1886. Let's find our more...
Report by Karla Ingleton Darocas (KarlaDarocas.com) (c) SpainLifestyle.com
MARVEL IN THE MYSTERY AND FACE THE FAMOUS RELIC OF ALICANTE
Spain is indeed a wonderful place to explore religious relics. An adventurous traveller does not necessarily have to be dedicated to a relic to discover its resting place, but on your journey you can be enlightened by the wonderful art and architecture that surrounds it.
One such great example is the Catholic relic of Santa Faz (Holy Face), protected and venerated in the monastery of Santa Faz in the municipality of Santa Faz in Alicante. This relic is the destination of an annual pilgrimage attended by more than 260,000 relic lovers.
Since visiting monasteries and searching for relics are both great ways to spend a Sunday morning, I set out to witness the historical past and admire a few mysteries myself.
* Report by Karla Ingleton Darocas, Hons. B.A. (c) no part of this text or photos may be replicated
DECORATIVE AND DISTINCTLY HISPANIC IN SUECA
Article by Karla Ingleton Darocas, (KarlaDarocas.com) (c) SpainLifestyle.com
SOROLLA'S GREATEST CHALLENGE WAS FACING THE LIGHT OF NATURE
Although outdoor painting was very popular in Sorolla's day, it was only after the turn of the century that he really became addicted to it. Why was painting outdoors so exciting and risky for Sorolla? But also, why was light so important in general? Do you want to understand more?
Article by Karla Darocas, Hons. B.A. (KarlaDarocas.com) (C) SpainLifestyle.com.
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