Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, one of the most illustrious Spanish Baroque painters, was honoured by Google Doodle on Thursday. Murillo is believed to have painted more than 400 works for Flemish merchants, convents and cathedrals, among others.
Believed to have been born at the end of 1617, and baptised on January 1, 1618, the Spanish painter first learned from his distant relative Juan del Castillo, also a Baroque painter. His most famous works include the Soult Immaculate Conception and the Vision of Saint Anthony.
According to a media report, in the 1640s, Murillo travelled to Madrid, where he learned from Diego Velázquez, one of the leading figures of the Spanish Golden Age who was once King Philip IV's court painter. His early paintings were heavily influenced by contemporary painters such as Francisco de Zurbarán and as devout Catholic were immensely pious and sombre.
From Madrid, Murillo studied the works of Italian and Flemish painters, including Anthony van Dyck and Jusepe de Ribera. After moving to Madrid, his works became brighter and softer and it is thought he came under the influence of older contemporary Diego Velázquez.
He became the most famous artist in golden-age Seville, particularly for his religious paintings, before becoming the most celebrated Spanish artist in 18th and 19th century Europe for his pictures of street urchins.
The painter's parents died when he was around 10-years-old and he became a ward of his sister's husband, before studying to become a painter under Juan del Castillo. Murillo later married the wealthy Beatriz de Cabrera y Sotomayor in the 1640s. He died on 3 April, 1682, around the age of 64.
Murillo's works are held at museums and collections throughout the world and various countries are now celebrating the 400th anniversary of his birth.
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