Esteban March facts for kids
Esteban March (born around 1610 in Valencia, Spain, and died around 1668 in Valencia) was a famous Spanish painter during the Baroque period. The Baroque style was popular in the 1600s and often featured dramatic scenes, rich colors, and strong emotions. Most of what we know about Esteban March comes from the writings of Antonio Palomino, who was a writer and painter himself, living a bit later.
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Life and Art of Esteban March
Esteban March's paintings look a lot like those by another artist named Pedro Orrente. This makes many people think that March might have learned from Orrente when Orrente was in Valencia between 1638 and 1645. For example, March's painting of Moses crossing the Red Sea, which is now at the Museo del Prado, shows many people and detailed animals. This painting really reminds us of Orrente's style.
Painting Battles and Bible Stories
People who knew Esteban March said he had a very energetic and strong personality. This is based on stories told by Juan Conchillos, one of his most well-known students. Some of this strong energy can be seen in his battle paintings. These are his most famous and admired works. It is even said that he would listen to exciting military music to get into the right mood before he started painting!
His interest in battle scenes also shows up in his paintings of stories from the Bible. Two famous examples are at the Museu de Belles Arts de València. One shows Joshua Stopping the Sun, and the other shows the Triumph of David. These paintings also have a lot of action and drama. It seems he also knew about the works of Italian battle painters like Aniello Falcone, Salvator Rosa, and Antonio Tempesta.
Religious Works and Drawings
Esteban March also created many religious paintings. One of his works is a Last Supper painting, which can be found in a chapel at the Iglesia de los Santos Juanes. He also painted a Calvary scene, which is now in a private collection in Madrid. Again, his style in these works was very similar to that of Pedro Orrente.
March's drawings are also very important. These include a drawing of himself (a self-portrait) and a drawing of his son, Miguel. He also made many detailed studies of hands and knees. These drawings are part of the collection of Raimon Casellas.
When Did Esteban March Die?
The writer Palomino said that Esteban March died in 1660. However, other writings suggest he was still alive later. For example, José García Hidalgo visited Valencia in 1662 and 1667 and probably met March. This means March likely lived past 1660, perhaps until around 1668.
See also
In Spanish: Esteban March para niños
