Juan Rexach facts for kids

Life of the Virgin and Saint Francis by Nicolás Francés, an altarpiece painting, now in the Museo del Prado

Juan Rexach was a talented Spanish painter and miniaturist who lived and worked in the 1400s. We don't know exactly when he was born or when he died. He was a very important artist in Valencia, Spain, during the 15th century.

Juan Rexach: A Spanish Master

Juan Rexach learned to paint from a famous artist named Jacomart. He worked in Jacomart's art studio. After some time, Juan Rexach became even more skilled than his teacher. He even finished some paintings that Jacomart had started! Sometimes, it's hard to tell which parts of a painting were done by Rexach and which by Jacomart.

Rexach liked to paint very large pictures. He made the people in his paintings look grand and important. His art was clearly Spanish, but you can also see ideas from other European artists. He was especially influenced by art from Flanders, a region in Europe.

Rexach's Unique Painting Style

For example, his famous painting called The Crucifixion looks a bit like the work of an artist named Gerard David. The buildings shown in Rexach's painting have a northern European style. Another well-known painting by Rexach is Madonna and Child Enthroned. This painting was so popular that it became a common design in Valencian art during his time. These two paintings were part of a larger artwork called a retable, which is a decorative screen behind an altar in a church.

Famous Artworks by Juan Rexach

Juan Rexach created many beautiful artworks, especially altarpieces for churches. Here are some of his notable pieces:

• The Santa Ursula: This painting is from Cubells and is now in the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (National Art Museum of Catalonia). You can even see his signature at the feet of Saint Ursula!
• The Epiphany: This artwork came from an Augustinian convent in Rubielos de Mora. It is also displayed in the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya.
• The San Martin: This painting can be found in the Segorbe Cathedral.
• The Crucifixion and the Virgin enthroned with Angels: These two paintings are part of the collection at the Norton Simon Museum.
• The Annunciation: This is a diptych, which means it's a painting made of two panels that can be folded. Each panel is 118x110 cm. It was painted around 1460 and is now in the Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts.

St. Martin of Tours, a retable by Juan Rexach, located in the Segorbe Cathedral Museum

See also

In Spanish: Juan Rexach para niños