Joaquin Sorolla My Inspiration and trip of a lifetime to Madrid

After the Bath 1908 - Sorolla

Good-Bye Venice, Good Bye - I must leave you today.  Following a celebration and graduation with my God Child and nephew in Venice Italy.  We travelled by vaporetto to Venice airport.  Destination:London for my nephew.  Destination: Madrid for yours truly.

Vaporetto ride from Zattere to Venice Airport

Ceramic on exterior wall of Sorolla's home

My favourite artist is the Spanish impressionistic painter Joaquin Sorolla (one time someone told me my work resembled Sorrolla's and it was the biggest compliment I could ever have been paid and it went straight to my head. Oh how I wish, wish and wish, hope and pray that I will understand light and shadow as he did.  St. Barbara patron saint of artists please grant my wish)

Sorolla Museum Madrid

 With sketchbook and paint box in tow for the next  3 days I sketched, painted, studied and took notes. The staff were most kind and helpful and I was made feel very welcomed.
 The Sorolla Museum is located in Madrid, Spain.  Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida was born in Valencia in 1863 and died in 1923. He was orphaned at 2 yrs. Lived with his sister, under the tutelage of his maternal aunt and uncle, who saw his interest in art. He was given art lessons. He spent a lifetime studying and painting. He met Clothilde who became the love of his life, married and moved to Madrid where he brought up his family, in the home which is now his museum.  Every item in the home was selected with love and a passion and eye for colour and detail.Among his  collection were exotic butterflies which were framed beneath glass and these vivid cobalts, lapis lazuli and turquoises showed up in his paintings. He has a beautiful collection of religious statues, holy water fonts in ceramics and artifacts which held meaning for him.  His eternal love for his family is evident in his home and his work.  His studio, paint box and easel are visible.

Pathway leading to Sorolla's studio

The Museum is actually the Sorolla home and the rooms remain as they were. The dining room is of particular interest.  It has a large border of canvas painted by Sorolla, which is garlands held by cherubs and the faces on the angels are those of his children and his beloved Clothilde.  He loved his wife and his children.

Dining room - panel painted by Sorolla - the models for angels were Clothilde and Sorolla's children

Once inspired, Sorolla  would hastily use any surface to paint, it could be a matchbox, napkin, piece of cardboard  and it was these initial paintings which were so exciting for me.  There is a wall with several of these miniature quick paintings, which exude so much energy, excitement and urgency

Study 5" x 7" on cardboard

Study on cardboard

study on paper

blocked in study on board

The time went all too quickly.  At such times, one forgets to eat, drink or even breathe. Aaah!

Adios a mi amigo

Sorolla Museum in Madrid