This Spanish artist was born in Fuente de Cantos
(Estremadura) into a middle class family. Studying in Seville,
he focused on religious subject matter for his work, painting
mainly saints and churchmen. His paintings went mostly to
monasteries and churches. Around 1629, he became a leading
artist in Spain for some years, working on frescoes and altarpieces.
His style fused the realism and mysticism tendencies present
in Spanish art at the time. Later on in his career, he suddenly
changed style, which some consider to have caused his decline.
He was not well
known outside of Spain as few of his pieces are found in the
rest of Europe. This makes his work highly valued by collectors.
Two of his most noted Works include Immaculate Conception
which he painted at age 18, and The Apotheosis of
St. Thomas Aquinas.
