This is possibly Joaquín Sorolla’s most famous work and for good reason. Even on a postcard there’s so much to admire here but full scale (and believe me, it’s huge) it’s even more impressive. Featuring all of Sorolla’s typical traits (fabric textures, Spanish life, light and shade) this is a painting that deserves to be among the greats and cannot be missed!
2.After the Bath, the Pink Robe, 1916
Sorolla’s personal favourite, this one depicts a woman standing naked in front of a mirror, revealing her body to be damp after bathing. The slightly different colour scheme to Sorolla’s usual beach scenes make this a memorable painting that really stands out in a room.
3.Study for The Comeback of the Fisheries, 1894
This life size painting by Joaquín Sorolla was absolutely huge! It took up an entire wall and the level of detail was just mind-blowing. In one image alone Sorolla demonstrates his skill at capturing a moment in time, the use of light and shade, fabric textures, and the shape of water. Amazing.
4.Strolling along the Seaside, 1909
The fall of their clothing, the waves in the background, and the evident gentle breeze are all masterful. Sorolla painted his wife and their three children on many occasions from childhood to adulthood. Here, his daughters strolling across the shore look as though they’ve been instantly captured, just like a photograph.
5.Sad Inheritance, 1899
The biography of Joaquín Sorolla features seaside paintings regularly feature children bathing and playing, often running around in the nude, and capture the care-free happiness of children in the summer heat. Sad Inheritance is a sombre alternative to this trope. One of the first depictions of children with polio, the painting was captured after Sorolla witnessed clergymen from the nearby children’s orphanage taking a group of young boys to the beach. Unlike the other children depicted in his works these boys are disfigured or crippled. Unlike some artists who avoided depicting childhood deformities Sorolla frequently included them in his work.
