Masterpiece Story: Vision of Spain by Joaquín Sorolla

Commission

Archer Milton Huntington, founder of the Hispanic Society of America, commissioned the paintings in 1911 for a new gallery on the west side of the main building. At the time, Valencian artist Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida had already gained significant acclaim in the United States with two successful traveling exhibitions organized by the Hispanic Society in 1909 and 1911. The 1909 exhibition alone drew 160,000 visitors in just one month.

The Vision of Spain series, nearly 12 ft (3.7 m) tall and 200 ft (4.3 m) long in total, was painted between 1912 and 1919 at various locations in Spain. The gallery immerses viewers in the diverse peoples, costumes, and traditions of Spain’s regions. Sadly, the paintings, which Sorolla considered his masterpiece, were inaugurated at the Hispanic Society only three years after Sorolla’s death in 1926.

Creation Process

Originally, Archer Milton Huntington envisioned a series depicting the history of Spain, but Sorolla had a different vision. Instead, he chose to portray the diverse regions of the Iberian Peninsula, titling his work The Provinces of Spain.

Despite the massive scale of the project, Sorolla painted all but one of the enormous canvases en plein air. He travelled to regions such as Navarre, Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, and Andalusia to capture the authentic essence of each locale. However, the demanding nature of the project took a toll on Sorolla. Unfortunately, by 1917, he admitted to being physically exhausted. Still, he pressed on and completed the final panel in July 1919.

Castilla. La Fiesta del Pan (The Feast of Bread)

Sorolla’s first work in the Vision of Spain series is titled Castilla. The Feast of Bread. This massive piece spanning over 13 meters (14.7 yd), features iconic landmarks like the Aqueduct of Segovia and the Alcázar of Toledo. The scene is alive with the festive energy of crowds, capturing the joyous spirit, unity, and deep pride of the Castilian people in their rich traditions.

In the left section of the painting, two drummers lead the march and set the scene. Moreover, they are followed closely by the central motif that inspired the title: four women presenting loaves of bread as if offering them to the viewer.

The right section of the painting presents a noticeable shift: the landscape opens up to reveal a bustling wheat market, evidenced by the numerous sacks awaiting sale. The figures on this side are more static. They seem to observe the festive activities of the men and women on the left, who are engaged in the symbolic celebration of bread.

The Variety of Spanish Regions

The series truly demonstrates the diverse essence of Spain with each scene. Sorolla highlights both different physical features of the regions but also depicts peoples’ traditional costumes, occupations, traditions, and folklore. Explore the paintings from the series below to experience the richness and variety of Spanish heritage and culture.

Sevilla. El baile (The Dance)

In the Vision of Spain series, Andalusia received the most attention, with Seville prominently featured in four of the five canvases. Sorolla introduced Andalusia into the Hispanic Society project with El Baile, alongside Los Nazarenos and El Encierro, which collectively cover the library’s eastern section.

In particular, El Baile showcases a traditional Andalusian festival, the Cross of May. The scene depicts a group of women dancing in a courtyard adorned with altars dedicated to the Cross, capturing the festive spirit of the region. Additionally, Sorolla skillfully depicted the architecture of a traditional Sevillian courtyard. And even more so, he conveyed the festive atmosphere by depicting women in their traditional attire.

Thus, this painting aligns Sorolla with the artistic tradition of Andalusian costumbrismo. Namely, this tradition focuses on depicting the everyday life and customs of a particular region or social class, often with a strong emphasis on local color and authenticity.

Moreover, the painting features a harmonious color palette of red, white, and green, directing the characters’ movements toward the center of the scene. Once again, Sorolla manages to capture the movement and perfectly convey the atmosphere of the moment. And as usual, he also gives special attention to light. Sorolla does this by skillfully highlighting the women’s dresses and the soft illumination streaming into the courtyard from above.

If you found this work captivating, be sure to explore the other four paintings that beautifully represent the rich cultural tapestry of Andalusia.

Exhibition: Vision of Spain

A Moving Vision of Spain teaser. Hispanic Society Museum & Library YouTube channel, 12 March 2024.

Sorolla’s canvases capture the vibrant colors, dynamic landscapes, and rich heritage of his homeland with extraordinary detail and passion. This certainly prompted the Vision of Spain series to embark on a major exhibition tour across Spain. With stops in Valencia, Seville, Málaga, Bilbao, Barcelona, and Madrid, it was exhibited between November 2007 and February 2010.

Interestingly, that was the first time these works had ever been publicly displayed in Spain. Therefore, it was no surprise it generated widespread excitement and attracted over 2 million visitors. With that being said, the show holds the title of the most attended exhibition in Spain’s history. Following the tour, the fully renovated Sorolla Vision of Spain Gallery was inaugurated in 2010.