Francisco de Zurbarán and the Fabric of the World

Jeremy Robbins is Emeritus Forbes Professor of Hispanic Studies at the University of Edinburgh. His books include Incomparable Realms: Spain during the Golden Age, 1500–1700 (Reaktion, 2022).

A beautiful little biography of the painter . . . Winsome. . . . Robbins writes with an almost proprietorial love for Zurbarán and hence should get the last word. To him, Zurbarán offers a contrast to the "bravura brushstrokes of Diego Velázquez that produce, for example, the illusion of a spinning wheel spinning." Zurbarán’s work, by contrast – including his depictions of the figures of Christ and saints – is defined by an absolute stillness. Nothing in his paintings moves us more than the absence of movement itself. - The Wall Street JournalThis study explores the seductive strangeness of Zurbarán's portraits and still lifes while placing him in the cultural and economic context of 17th-century Europe . - Apollo MagazineSeizing upon the "absolute stillness" of Zurbarán’s compositions, Robbins elucidates the relationship between their rich materiality and their otherworldliness. - The New CriterionWith words of stillness, clarity and simplicity, perfectly complementing the images of Zurbarán himself, Robbins deftly unveils the occluded mysteries of this supreme master of Spanish piety. - David Howarth, Emeritus Professor of Baroque Art, The University of EdinburghFrancisco de Zurbarán and the Fabric of the World presents an intriguing approach through the materiality and genres of painting, offering a journey through the artist’s entire career and emphasising the importance of the study of matter and the monumentalisation of still life through textures. This is an original approach that undoubtedly provides an interesting perspective in visual culture for discovering the Spanish artist and explaining his work. - Benito Navarrete Prieto, Professor of Art History, Complutense University of MadridA perfect gateway into the world of Zurbarán, this book captures the essence of one of Seville’s greatest painters, celebrated for his stark, moving depictions of monastic life in seventeenth-century Spain. It invites readers not only to appreciate his mastery of light and realism but also to seek out his works at the Museo del Prado and the Monastery of Guadalupe, where the quiet spirituality of his paintings can be felt most deeply. - Xavier Bray, Director of the Wallace Collection, London