Famous Spanish Paintings

Spanish artists are known for contributing to the Cubist and the Surrealist Movements. Among popular Spanish artists are Picasso, Dali, and Goya.

Guernica Picasso

Spanish artist Pablo Picasso created this artwork which became one of the largest pieces of art and is considered to be one of the most famous Spanish paintings ever created.

Picasso painted Guernica as an anti-war protest against the tragic bombing of the town of Guernica in the Basque Country of Northern Spain by Nazi German and Fascist Italian forces at the request of the Spanish Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War.

The painting was sent on a world tour to help raise funds for the Spanish war relief. You can see a tapestry of Guernica hanging in the United Nations Building in New York City.

The Old Guitarist Pablo Picasso

Spanish artist Pablo Picasso spent a great part of his life in abject poverty. During this time he found great affinity with the poor and downtrodden of the world.

The artist created this painting in 1903 while he was living penniless in Barcelona. This artwork is part of those works he painted during his “Blue” period.

As can be seen in the painting the guitarist looks depressed and defeated.

The Persistence of Memory Salvador Dali

Spanish artist Salvador Dali created this artwork in 1931 and it has been reproduced many times on posters and prints. It is one of the most famous paintings in the world and by one of the most recognizable names in art. It is the defining painting of the Surrealist art movement. The painting can be viewed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Las Meninas Diego Velazquez

Spanish artist Diego Velazquez created this artwork in 1656. The painting depicts many interesting figures among them a nun, a dwarf, and a princess as well as the artist himself. At the time Velazguez painted this artwork he the Palace Chamberlain in the Spanish royal court.

The Third of May 1808 Francisco Goya

Spanish artist Francisco Goya created this impressive artwork in honor of his fallen countrymen.

In 1807 Napoleon had struck an alliance with the King of Spain Charles IV in an attempt to conquer Portugal. The French army entered Spain en route to Portugal. However, soon the Spanish realized this was trickery on part of Napoleon who actually wanted to conquer Spain also. On May 2, 1808 Spanish nationals rebelled in Madrid but had been captured by May 3 and executed by the French.

This painting is considered to be one of the most famous paintings in the world since it transforms Christian iconography portraying man’s inhumanity to man. It depicts a poor laborer taking position as Christ in the center of the painting, sacrificing himself for his country.

Saturn Devouring His Son Francisco Goya

Spanish artist Francisco Goya lived in a house called “la Quinta del Sordo”. He decorated it with murals on the walls some of which belonged to the artist’s series known as the “Black Paintings”. He used black pigment through these murals.

This artwork depicts Saturn. This is the Romanized name of the Greek Titan Chronus, who lived in feat that he would be overthrown by his children. Upon the birth of his children Cronus is said to have eaten every one of them. However, his wife hid their third child Jupiter from him. Jupiter would eventually take over and fulfill the prophecy.

The Burial of the Count of Orgaz El Greco

Spanish artist El Greco was one of the most famous Renaissance artists of his time. He is also one of the few non-Italian artists to achieve huge fame for his artworks. This painting was commissioned by the church and hangs in the Santo Tome Church in Toledo, Spain.

The artwork depicts the interment of the Count of Orgaz. During the ceremony the heavens erupted and the sky was filled with larger than life images of Jesus, the Virgin, and other saints and angels. El Greco chose to immortalize many local dignitaries in the painting also including the Priest Nunez who commissioned the artwork.

The Farm Juan Miro

Spanish artist Juan Miro arrived in Paris, France in 1920 after WW II. This painting became his one of his best-known paintings and among the most famous Spanish paintings ever. It was painted during the time Cubism was popular in art and Miro struggled to find a buyer.

The artists has a strong affinity with the countryside having grown up on a small Spanish farm. The artwork depicts all the aspects of country life and farm living.

Portrait of Picasso Juan Gris

Spanish artist Juan Gris went to Paris, France in 1906 where he met Pablo Picasso. The well-known painter Picasso became a mentor for Gris and with him developed the new Cubist style.

In the artwork Picasso is depicted larger than life.