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Ignacio Pinazo: A Pioneer in Spanish Modernism

Ignacio Pinazo Martínez (born in Sagunto, Valencia, in 1849 - died in Madrid in 1916) was a Spanish painter who was one of the most important Spanish Impressionists. He was also a teacher, writer and collector.

Ignacio Pinazo Camarlench - Figura femenina sentada

Biography

Pinazo was born in Sagunto, Valencia, in 1849. His parents were poor but he was able to pursue his artistic studies thanks to the help of a wealthy family friend. He moved to Madrid in 1869 to continue his studies, where he was taught by Federico de Madrazo, and was strongly influenced by their Realist style. He later moved to Paris in 1872 and there he was exposed to the latest artistic movements such as Impressionism and Symbolism.

When he returned to Spain in 1874 he was already an established painter and he began to exhibit his work in Spain and abroad, including at the Paris Salon. He also became an active member of the artistic community in Madrid, joining the Spanish artistic circle known as the "Madrid Círculo Artístico". In 1879 he founded the magazine "El Artista" to promote Spanish art and he wrote several books about art, including a biography of Francisco Pradilla.

In 1891, Pinazo was appointed professor of painting at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid, where he taught until his death in 1916.

 

Ignacio Pinazo Camarlench - Emparrado

Style

Pinazo was a versatile painter and his work ranged from Realism to Symbolism to Impressionism. His works were often inspired by his travels through Spain and his studies of the Spanish masters, such as Velázquez, Ribera and Zurbarán. He also incorporated elements of current artistic movements such as Impressionism and Symbolism.

Pinazo's early works were mainly landscapes and genre scenes depicting everyday life in rural Spain. He often used a palette of warm earth tones and employed a Realist style. Later in his career, Pinazo began to experiment with brighter colors and looser brushstrokes, which are characteristic of his Impressionist style.

Pinazo's most famous works are his landscapes of the Valencian countryside, which were inspired by his visits to his hometown of Sagunto. These works are characterized by a bright palette and a delicate, Impressionist-style brushwork.

Ignacio Pinazo Camarlench - El invierno, Retrato de D. Manuel_Comas

Legacy

Pinazo's work is held in several major Spanish museums, including the Museo del Prado in Madrid, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid, and the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya in Barcelona.

In 2004, the city of Sagunto held a major retrospective of his work to celebrate the 150th anniversary of his birth.

In addition to his paintings, Pinazo was also a teacher, writer and art collector. He was an important figure in the artistic life of Madrid and his influence on the next generation of Spanish painters was significant. He was one of the key figures in the development of Spanish Impressionism and his work is highly prized by collectors and art historians.

Ignacio Pinazo -Anochecer en la escollera