Description
The painting St Stephen by the artist Luis De Morales is a masterpiece of the Spanish Renaissance that stands out for its sober and elegant artistic style. The work, which measures 67 x 50 cm, represents Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, in his moment of martyrdom.
The composition of the painting is very interesting, since Morales manages to convey the intensity of the moment through the posture of the saint and the expression on his face. In addition, the figure of Saint Stephen is in the center of the composition, surrounded by a dark background that highlights his figure and gives him an air of solemnity.
In terms of colour, the painting is characterized by its limited color range, which is mainly made up of dark and earthy tones. This contributes to creating an atmosphere of serenity and seclusion, in keeping with the religious theme of the work.
The history of the painting is also very interesting, as it was commissioned by Cardinal Juan Pardo de Tavera, one of the most important patrons of the Spanish Renaissance. The work was part of a group of paintings that decorated the cardinal's chapel in the Cathedral of Toledo.
One of the lesser known aspects of the painting is that Morales used a very innovative technique for the time, known as "glazing." This technique consists of applying very thin layers of transparent paint over previous layers, which allows creating very subtle and realistic light and shadow effects.
In summary, the painting St Stephen by Luis De Morales is a work of great beauty and depth, which stands out for its sober and elegant style, its intense composition and its innovative technique. An essential work for any lover of Spanish Renaissance art.