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SCULPTING MEDIA
For different types of carving,
and modelling, see:
Stone Sculpture
From igneous, sedimentary,
and metamorphic rocks.
Marble Sculpture
Pentelic, Carrara, Parian marbles.
Wood Carving
Chip carving, relief carving of
softwoods and hardwoods.
Bronze Sculpture
Lost-wax casting method,
sandcasting, centrifugal casting.
BEST WORKS OF SCULPTURE
For a list of the world's top 100
3-D artworks, by the best sculptors
in the history of art, see:
Greatest Sculptures Ever.
BEST SCULPTORS
For a list of the world's most
talented 3-D artists, see:
Greatest Sculptors.
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In Madrid, King Philip IV appointed Cano
to be Royal Architect and King's Painter. He was tasked to restore pictures
in the British royal
art collection, and thus came into contact with masters of the 16th
century Renaissance
in Venice. This influence can be seen in Cano's subsequent paintings,
which are softer than his earlier pictures and are strongly lit from a
light source, in the manner of Zurbaran.
One of Cano's most important paintings from this period includes The
Miracle at the Well (1646-48, Prado
Museum, Madrid), which had been hailed by his contemporaries as a
masterpiece, but had remained damaged and forgotten until it was submitted
to the Prado in 1941. From 1640 onwards, Cano's style became more pictorial,
almost Baroque in style. This can best be seen with Descent into Limbo
(1640, Los Angeles
County Museum of Art, Los Angeles) which is highly illustrative, the
viewer finds themselves in the middle of a story. Other paintings include
Mary (1646-50, Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest); Noli me Tangere
(c.1640, Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest); and St John the Evangelist
on Pathmos (1646-50, Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest).
Granada Cathedral
In 1644 Cano was yet again to flee for
his life on being accused of the murder of his wife. He initially escaped
to Valencia, but was returned to favour in 1652 and was granted the position
of Canon at Granada Cathedra. In order to secure his position Cano took
holy orders and was appointed chief architect of the cathedral, a position
he held until his death. Cano was to design many of the features and decorations
of western facade of the cathedral - but the facade was only erected after
his death by his successor Jose de Granados. The cathedral houses many
of Cano's paintings and sculptures, including a polychrome wooden statue
of The Immaculate Conception (1655) which is sometimes considered
his masterpiece. His works from Granada are harmonious and serene. Another
example is Eve (1666, Granada Cathedral) - a large wooden bust
which is highly effeminate and elegant. Cano's Eve sparkles with coquettish
charm and intelligence. He never managed to complete the accompanying
wooden bust of Adam, this was completed later by Juan Velez de
Ulloa.
Other Works
Other paintings by Cano in collections
in museums around the world include: The Vision of Saint John (1635,
Wallace Collection, London); The Annunciation (c.1645, Museo del
Prado); Dead Christ Supported by an Angel (1646-52, Prado); Immaculate
Conception (1648, Provincial Museum, Vitoria); and The Vision of
St Bernard (c.1650, Prado).
Cano died in 1667 in Granada. Unfortunately
time has not been kind to many of his paintings and sculptures, several
of his best have been destroyed in revolutions and wars. This has reduced
the impact of his artistic legacy.
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