When the vital light goes out, flowers appear 100 years later. Today, August 10th, is the 100th anniversary of the death of Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida (1863-1923), whose light will live on forever in the works that bore him Mediterranean Sea worldwide. Also traditional scenes and numerous portraits, including that of his beloved Clotilde García.
This afternoon, relatives and cultural figures paid their respects to the Valencian painter of 2010 General Cemetery of Valencia, where Sorolla is buried and flowers have been laid on his grave.
The artist is the most versatile Valencian painter and one of the most admired and appreciated Spaniards, since some of his works have been auctioned for more than five million euros. contemporary of Blasco Ibanez and Benlliurewas educated in the artisan schools of Valencia – which still preserve some of the first paintings by a boy who was already showing talent – and in the School of Fine Arts of San Carlos.
He took advantage of that too Valencia Provincial Council grant, with whom he went to Rome (Italy). He settled in Madrid, where the museum is now located, and during his career traveled to Paris (where he won the Grand Prix) and New York, among other places. Actually the Hispanic Society of America In New York (USA) he commissioned the gigantic “Visions of Spain” when he was already internationally known.
Kidney failure at age 60
As Levante-EMV of Grupo Prensa Ibérica has published, Joaquín Sorolla died at the age of 60 in Cercedilla (Madrid) at his daughter’s house and as a result of a pyelonephritis, a kidney disease. However, the painter was already in poor health at the time, for years earlier In 1920 he suffered two seizures that caused hemiplegiawhich made painting difficult for him.
You have arrived at the Valencia Cemetery Relatives of Sorolla -several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren-and members of the Foundation, Board of Trustees and Sorolla Museum of Madrid. Among other things they were Antonio Molla Lorente, President of the Standing Committee of the Sorolla Museum Foundation; And acacia sanchez, the centenary coordinator and technician of the museum.
Also the City Council for Cultural Actions of the City Council of Valencia, Jose Luis Moreno; next to Julia ClementActing Mayor, in addition to Rafael AlconPresident of Bancaja Foundation.
He wanted to be there too Jose Gabriel AstudilloPresident of the Spanish Association of Painters and Sculptors, which Sorolla founded and which he also chaired. There were no representatives of the Generalitat present.
Under the Sun of Justice, Antonio Mollá thanked for how society has turned to the anniversary and emphasized that on this day “Spain has lost a painter and Valencia one of his most famous sons”, but “we still have his culture, his work and his house museum”.
For his part, José Luis Moreno has highlighted that the artist’s last wish was to rest in his hometown, which he portrayed so much. “He decided that his funeral would take place in Valencia, the city that inspired his work so much; He is one of the main ambassadors and is still very much alive.”has manifested itself in the homage.
The deed was dismissed in the official program of 100th Anniversary of Sorolla “100. anniversary of the death of Joaquín Sorolla” of the Ministry of Culture. The anniversary has also been declared an Event of Outstanding Public Interest until December 2024.
commemorating the anniversary
In Valencia, two weeks ago, the Museum of Fine Arts inaugurated the Sorolla Room, permanent and exclusive for its collections of the painter. There is also a temporary exhibition of Masaveu Collection; while “Sorolla in Black” will remain at the Bancaja Foundation until September.
To discover Sorolla from a different perspective, in the Navy of Valencia is this summer “Sorolla, a new dimension”, an immersive exhibition, with Virtual Reality and 360° rooms.
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his death the National House of Currency and Postage Stamps He has created a collection of coins illustrated with his most famous paintings. Today, The ONCEissued a voucher with the work “The Arrival of the Boats”; and on Saturday, the state lotteries and games of chance will issue a ticket with “La bata rosa”.
The city council in turn organized Guided tours, exhibitions (like the one in the city museum) and workshops in memory of Sorolla.
Works by Sorolla like “Walk Along the Sea” or “Boys on the Beach” will always remain in the collective imagination.
