Francisco Varela (painter) facts for kids
Francisco Varela (around 1580 – 1645) was a Spanish painter from the Baroque period. He was known for his beautiful and realistic artworks.
Varela was born, lived, and worked his whole life in the city of Seville, Spain. In 1625, a special teacher in Seville would check the skills of young artists. This was to make sure they were good enough to join the city's painters' guild, which was like a club for artists.
Varela's Art Style
Like many painters of his time, Varela started with a style called Mannerism. This style often used exaggerated poses and bright colors. However, his art slowly changed towards naturalism. This meant he started painting things in a more realistic way, just as they looked in real life. His naturalistic style was similar to the work of another famous Spanish painter, Francisco de Zurbarán, who came later.
Important Paintings
Not many of Varela's paintings are still known today. Here are some of his important works:
- The Last Supper: He painted two versions of the Last Supper.
- One was made in 1622 and is in the Church of San Bernardo in Seville. It might have been inspired by an old engraving.
- The other painting, which looks very similar, was bought by the government of Andalusia in 2004. You can see it at the Museum of Fine Arts of Seville.
- Portrait of Martinez Montanes: In 1616, Varela painted a famous Portrait of Martinez Montanes. Montanes was a well-known sculptor. This painting belongs to the city of Seville.
- Saint Michael the Archangel: He also painted San Miguel Archangel in 1629.
Later Works
One of Francisco Varela's last known projects was in 1640. He created a series of paintings for the Convent of the Passion in Seville. These paintings are now also shown at the Museum of Fine Arts. The series includes:
- Saint Christopher and Saint Augustine
- Saint Catherine of Siena with Saint Lucia
- Saint Catherine of Alexandria with Saint Teresa of Jesus
See also
In Spanish: Francisco Varela (pintor) para niños
