Juan de Valdés Leal

Juan de Valdés Leal was a Spanish painter born on May 4, 1622, in Seville, and he died on October 15, 1690, in the same city. He was a prominent figure of the Baroque movement, known for his dramatic and emotive style. Valdés Leal's work is characterized by its intense use of chiaroscuro and dynamic compositions, often exploring themes of mortality and the ephemeral nature of life. He was a contemporary and sometimes rival of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, with whom he co-founded the Seville Academy of Art in 1660. Among his most significant contributions are the "In ictu oculi" and "Finis gloriae mundi," two allegorical paintings that exemplify his mastery of the memento mori theme. His work had a lasting influence on the development of Spanish Baroque art, particularly in the realm of religious and allegorical painting.