An exhibition of works by Spanish Baroque painter Francisco de Zurbarán has opened at London’s National Gallery, showcasing his strikingly realistic still lifes and religious scenes. The show highlights Zurbarán’s masterful use of light, texture, and dramatic composition to create paintings that feel almost tangible, drawing viewers into their intimate, contemplative worlds.
This exhibition matters because it repositions Zurbarán as a pivotal figure in European art history, often overshadowed by contemporaries like Velázquez. By foregrounding his hyperrealistic technique and emotional depth, the National Gallery invites a fresh reassessment of his influence on both Baroque painting and modern realism, reinforcing the enduring power of detail and drama in visual art.