Google is celebrating the 400th birthday of famous Spanish artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo by dedicating a doodle on its homepage. Murillo was known for adding dramatic lighting, versatility, and “radiant color palette” to his paintings. He focused his working on painting historical and religious scenes, still life, and portraits in fresco and oil. He was active during what historians refer to as the golden era of Spanish art. Murillo did not limit himself to a particular type of objects, and instead, focused on a “wide range of subjects” including the “Immaculate Conception” and “Two Women at a Window”.
Murillo created his own signature style of painting while mixing it with Venetian and Flemish influences. This mix continued to evolve throughout his career. To add context to this evolution, he was introduced to Diego Velázquez while exposing him to the work done by Flemish and Venetian masters. The cycle of influence would continue as later Murillo would influence future painters including Thomas Gainsborough, and Jean-Baptiste Greuze.
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Not much is known about his birth, but Murillo is believed to have been baptized on the New Year’s Day in 1618 at the Seville’s Church in St. Mary Magdalen. He spent most of his life in Seville and studied with another accomplished painter, Juan del Castillo. Castillo was related to Murillo on his mother’s side.
According to the Google Doodle details page, Murillo would go on to surpass his master and he was later considered as the head of “Sevillian School” in the Baroque era. To mark the 400th anniversary, the Museum of Fine Arts at Seville is holding a series of “major exhibitions” along with Guided tours, concert, and other activities. Seville is observing 2018 and the “Year of Murillo.”
