Andalusian school; Circle of JUAN RUIZ SORIANO... Lot n° 50

Andalusian School; Circle of JUAN RUIZ SORIANO (Higuera de la Sierra, Huelva, 1701 - Seville, 1763). "Portrait of a clergyman. Oil on canvas. Re-retouched. It has repainting and restorations. Measurements: 159 x 111 cm; 173 x 124 cm (frame). In this scene the author presents us the image of a religious dressed in black tunic, so it is probably the representation of a religious of the order of Saint Benedict. In the centre of the scene, seated at a desk, he looks towards the viewer, revealing a realistic face with a very rounded form, gesture and expression that the artist manages to portray. The figure holds a pen in one of his hands, while the other holds a book from which the palm leaf, referring to martyrdom, is detached. One of the most notable features of the composition is the scene in the central area on the left. Here we can see a group of small figures who seem to be observing something outside the composition. The agitation of this scene contrasts with the stillness of the rest of the painting. It is likely that this device alludes to the texts referring to the main figure or to biographical information about him, so that the painter has introduced it in a narrative manner, with the intention of portraying not only the figure of the religious figure but also his context. Due to the technical characteristics of the work, this piece can be included in the artistic circle of Juan Ruiz Soriano. Born in the town of Higuera de Aracena, now Higuera de la Sierra, Juan Ruiz Soriano trained in Seville with his cousin Alonso Miguel de Tovar (Higuera de la Sierra, 1678 - Madrid, 1752), beginning his pictorial activity in 1725. As a disciple of Tovar, it is logical that Ruiz Soriano's art should at the same time derive from that of Murillo, which is why his pictorial production is characterised by a soft, gentle drawing. We know that he worked for numerous religious orders, which asked him to produce a series of paintings to decorate their cloister walls. He must also have worked extensively for private individuals.