Alonso Cano (1601 - 1667) - photo 1

Alonso Cano

Alonso Cano was a multifaceted Spanish artist, renowned for his remarkable contributions in painting, sculpture, and architecture. Born in Granada in 1601, Cano is often celebrated as the "Spanish Michelangelo", a testament to his diverse artistic talents and significant impact on the Baroque era. His career, marked by a blend of Italian Mannerism and Baroque style, was a journey through various Spanish cities, each phase contributing uniquely to his artistic evolution.

In Seville, Cano trained under Francisco Pacheco, where his initial works like "San Francisco de Borja" (Seville Museum of Fine Arts) displayed a blend of Tenebrism and a brighter, more lyrical color palette. This period also saw the birth of works like "La Visión de San Juan" (Wallace Collection, London), signaling a transition in his style. Madrid, however, marked a significant turn in Cano's career. His works for the Buen Retiro Palace and the Alcázar showcase an evolution towards elegant, dynamic Baroque forms with lighter tonalities, influenced by the 16th-century Venetian masters.

Cano's return to Granada in 1652 was a homecoming that not only reinvigorated the Granada School but also marked his most prolific period. His masterpieces during this time include the series of paintings on the life of the Virgin in Granada Cathedral, a remarkable testament to Baroque art. Notably, his "Inmaculada Concepción" (1648) and "Nacimiento de la Virgen" (1663-1664) in the Cathedral stand as crowning achievements of his painterly career.

Equally impressive is Cano's sculptural work, where his polychrome wooden statue of the Immaculate Conception (1655) in Granada Cathedral is often hailed as his magnum opus. Despite sculpture being a secondary focus to his painting, his works, such as the Inmaculada in San Julián Church, Sevilla, and the smaller, yet exquisitely crafted, Inmaculada of the facistol in Granada Cathedral, resonate with the delicate beauty pointing towards Rococo art.

Cano's architectural prowess is exemplified in the design of Granada Cathedral's façade, an original piece of Spanish Baroque architecture. His artistic journey was not just a personal endeavor but a pivotal influence in the transition of Spanish painting towards a more idealist trend alongside Velázquez.

For art collectors and experts, Alonso Cano's works remain a cornerstone of the Baroque era, showcasing a blend of dramatic realism and spiritual depth. His influence extends beyond the boundaries of Granada, leaving an indelible mark on the world of art and culture.

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Date and place of birt:19 march 1601, Granada, Spain
Date and place of death:3 september 1667, Granada, Spain
Nationality:Spain
Period of activity: XVII century
Specialization:Architect, Designer, Draftsman, Engraver, Painter, Sculptor
Art school / group:Granada School
Art style:Baroque, Mannerism

Creators Spain

Joaquin Dominguez Becker (1817 - 1879)
Joaquin Dominguez Becker
1817 - 1879
Louis de Morales (1509 - 1586)
Louis de Morales
1509 - 1586
Frederico Aguilar Alcuaz (1932 - 2011)
Frederico Aguilar Alcuaz
1932 - 2011
Giovanni Battista Castello (1509 - 1569)
Giovanni Battista Castello
1509 - 1569
Adolfo Giard Larrauri (1860 - 1916)
Adolfo Giard Larrauri
1860 - 1916
Juan Sánchez Cotán (1560 - 1627)
Juan Sánchez Cotán
1560 - 1627
Antoni Clavé (1913 - 2005)
Antoni Clavé
1913 - 2005
Pilar Albarracín (1968)
Pilar Albarracín
1968
Irene Rice Pereira (1902 - 1971)
Irene Rice Pereira
1902 - 1971
Juan Garaizabal (1971)
Juan Garaizabal
1971
Leonardo Alenza y Nieto (1807 - 1845)
Leonardo Alenza y Nieto
1807 - 1845
Gregorio Fernández (1576 - 1636)
Gregorio Fernández
1576 - 1636
Eduardo Arroyo (1937 - 2018)
Eduardo Arroyo
1937 - 2018
Mariano Fortuny y Marsal (1838 - 1874)
Mariano Fortuny y Marsal
1838 - 1874
Jean-Baptiste Pillement (1728 - 1808)
Jean-Baptiste Pillement
1728 - 1808
Isidore Gil Gabilondo (1843 - 1917)
Isidore Gil Gabilondo
1843 - 1917

Creators Baroque

Cornelis Matthieu (XVII century - XVII century)
Cornelis Matthieu
XVII century - XVII century
Annibale Carracci (1560 - 1609)
Annibale Carracci
1560 - 1609
Dirck van Baburen (1595 - 1624)
Dirck van Baburen
1595 - 1624
Evaristo Baskenis (1617 - 1677)
Evaristo Baskenis
1617 - 1677
Daniel Mijtens (1590 - 1647)
Daniel Mijtens
1590 - 1647
Anton Raphael Mengs (1728 - 1779)
Anton Raphael Mengs
1728 - 1779
Francesco Galli Bibiena (1659 - 1739)
Francesco Galli Bibiena
1659 - 1739
Constantijn Netscher (1668 - 1723)
Constantijn Netscher
1668 - 1723
Alfonso Rivarola (1590 - 1640)
Alfonso Rivarola
1590 - 1640
Matthias Stom (1600 - 1650)
Matthias Stom
1600 - 1650
Christoph Amberger (1505 - 1562)
Christoph Amberger
1505 - 1562
Frans Snyders (1579 - 1657)
Frans Snyders
1579 - 1657
Benjamin Gerritsz. Cuyp (1612 - 1652)
Benjamin Gerritsz. Cuyp
1612 - 1652
Jacopo da Empoli (1551 - 1640)
Jacopo da Empoli
1551 - 1640
Anton Domenico Gabbiani (1652 - 1726)
Anton Domenico Gabbiani
1652 - 1726
Simon Thomassin (1654 - 1733)
Simon Thomassin
1654 - 1733