Spanish Artists

This Spanish sculptor and architect, was born into the Churriguera family, a Spanish family with a history in architecture, especially prominent in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Son of an altarpiece artist from Barcelona, José Benito, along with his two brothers, Joaquín and Alberto worked as architects, and eventually a certain architectural style became associated with the family name.

This style is marked by extravagant designs and lavish use of Renaissance motives and stucco decoration. José Benito became famous for his masterpiece, the altar in the church of San Estéban in Salamanca and other works, including the great catafalque for Queen Maria Luisa and the private palace he built for Spanish banker Don Juan de Goyeneche.