Francisco de Solís

FRANCISCO DE SOLIS (Madrid, c.1620-1625 -1684).
"Apocalypse".
Oil on canvas. Relined from the 19th century.
It has slight restorations.
It has a XIX century frame with damage.
Measurements: 62 x 83 cm; 69 x 92 cm (frame).
In this work the author recreates a completely fantastic scene in which dominates the presence of a multitude of characters that are arranged in a celestial plane completely theatricalized. In the center of the scene an angel appears with some flames in one of his hands and in the other one a key and a chain with which he ties one of the heads of the monster, located in the lower zone between flames. The author divides the canvas between heaven and hell in which we can appreciate in a sketchy way numerous bodies that are rushing into the void and that are being subdued by the presence of an angel with a shield. In the celestial zone the center is occupied by the Virgin as the Immaculate Conception, accompanied on the right by a scene representing the birth of Jesus and on the left by God the Father with the Orb and the risen Christ.
Francisco de Solís was the son of the well-known painter and scenographer Juan de Solís, who wanted him to pursue an ecclesiastical career. However, he continued to practice painting in his father's workshop when he had free time. At the age of eighteen he painted a scene of the Capuchins of Villarrubia de los Ojos, which he showed publicly. This caught the attention of King Philip IV, who wanted to know more about the artist. This convinced him to make art his main profession. He had no financial worries, which made him unambitious as an artist, but he amassed a large library and a valuable collection of engravings and drawings; some of which were signed as gifts to him. This included a sketchbook of works by Diego de Obregón, the son of Pedro de Obregón. For many years he led a school of drawing, but his only pupil who became known was the painter José Moreno. He painted in many of the convents of Madrid, which provided for connections that brought commissions from outside the area; including the Franciscans in Viana and the Dominicans in Villanueva de los Infantes. In 1675 he painted the Annunciation for the convent of the Discalced Carmelites in Boadilla del Monte, where his daughter Petronila took her vows. He also made paintings for the chapel of the Convent of Copacabana. All of his surviving works are of a religious nature, but apparently he also painted scenes from mythology; of particular note is a series on the Labors of Hercules in the Plaza de San Salvador, which were commissioned to celebrate the arrival of Maria Luisa de Orleans and her court in 1679.