School of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo; XVIII century.

School of BARTOLOMÉ ESTEBAN MURILLO; XVIII century.
"St. Joseph with Child".
Oil on canvas. relined.
Presents restorations.
Measurements: 61 x 49 cm; 70 x 58 cm (frame).
This theme was in very repeated by the master Murillo, who managed to create a personal aesthetic pattern, of great influence and iconographic relevance. Until the Counter-Reformation, the most common thing was that the figure of St. Joseph remained in the background, since he was not given any theological importance. However, after Trent, his protagonist role as Jesus' protector during his childhood, as a guide during his youth, was recovered, and as such he is represented here. In contrast to the tenderness, defenselessness and candor of the infant figure, St. Joseph is presented as a monumental character, typically baroque, an impression that is reinforced by the pyramidal composition. Through this form of representation, the author visually enhances the decisive role as protector of the putative father of Jesus.
Little is known about Murillo's childhood and youth, except that he was orphaned of his father in 1627 and of his mother in 1628, for which reason he was taken under the tutelage of his brother-in-law. Around 1635 he must have begun his apprenticeship as a painter, very possibly with Juan del Castillo, who was married to a cousin of his. This working and artistic relationship would last about six years, as was customary at the time. After his marriage, in 1645, he began what was to be a brilliant career that progressively made him the most famous and sought-after painter in Seville. The only recorded trip he made is documented in 1658, the year in which Murillo was in Madrid for several months. It may be thought that at the court he maintained contact with the painters who resided there, such as Velázquez, Zurbarán and Cano, and that he had access to the collection of paintings in the Royal Palace, a magnificent subject of study for all those artists who passed through the court. Despite the few documentary references regarding his mature years, we know that he enjoyed a comfortable life, which allowed him to maintain a high standard of living and several apprentices.