Antonio Saura

Doña Jerónima de la Fuente

Date: 1972

Technique: Mixed media on paper

Dimensions: 100 x 70 cm

Es Baluard Museu d’Art Contemporani de Palma, Fundació d’Art Serra donation

Reg. no.: 70

On display

The work is a black-and-white portrait of Sor Jerónima de la Fuente Yáñez (a 17th-century Franciscan nun from Toledo, the founder in 1620 of the convent of Santa Clara de la Concepción in Manila, the Philippines). Comprised of swift, gestural strokes, the figure, in a frontal position, is reduced to elementary patterns, holding a crucifix in her hands along with another element that is difficult to identify – possibly a book -, as in Velazquez’s portrait La venerable madre Jerónima de la Fuente (The Nun Jerónima de la Fuente, 1620). It is a custom of Saura’s to recreate paintings by Velázquez or Goya by means of an automatic and compulsive expression. Saura’s style is defined as monochromatic, using black only, or near-monochromatic, introducing browns and greys on occasions. With swift, energetic strokes, he shuns formal abstraction, becoming a powerful expressionist, and despising the forms of traditional representation.

E.C.

Artist biography
Es Baluard
Privacy overview

This website uses cookies so that we can offer you the best possible user experience. The cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website or helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.