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Date Published: 04/12/2024

Masterpiece by famed Spanish painter resurfaces after 100 hundred years

The painting ‘Paris Boulevard’ by Joaquín Sorolla was sold in 1890 to a private collection and has not been seen since

The renowned Spanish master of light, Joaquín Sorolla, has long been proclaimed as one of the greatest painters from Spain, alongside Picasso, Velázquez and Goya. His works are on show throughout the famous galleries and museums of the world, and he even has an entire museum dedicated to his work in Madrid.

Now, a painting which has gone unseen for over a century is back in the public eye for all the world to see. ‘Paris Boulevard’, which was painted by Sorolla during a visit to the French capital between 1889 and 1890, shows a bustling cafe as dusk falls on the city and it has not been seen for 134 years.

After being bought by a private collector in 1890 the piece has disappeared from public view and the world has not been privy to the masterpiece ever since. Though the painting is a step away from the works that are most closely associated with the Spanish artist, such as his beautifully bright coastal scenes of his home land, the work has quickly become recognised as a work of genius.

The scene perfectly captures the mood of the great city. The light that Sorolla is so famed for is subtle and warm and tells the tale of an afternoon that is coming to an end as the evening begins. The scene is busy and yet not crowded or hectic. There is a gentle quality to the composition that is reminiscent of the Spaniard’s work more widely. The artist himself even appears upon the scene with a cigar in hand sitting at a table with a soldier.

This fantastic example of Sorolla’s power as a painter is now on show amongst 76 other paintings by the artist in Madrid at the Royal collection gallery. The exhibition is named ‘Soralla, One Hundred Years of Modernity’ and has been created for the people to come and enjoy the great artist's work.

The gallery has stated that the new uncovered masterpiece “immortalises one of the countless Parisian boulevard cafes and the flow of the crowds in the city… Sorolla presented the work at the 1890 National Exhibition, where its singular nature immediately set it apart from the Spanish painting of the period.”

In reference to the disappearance of the painting, the gallery continued by saying, “All the experts thought it had disappeared, but a feat of investigation turned up some most unexpected results… It was still in the hands of the family who bought it back then and they have allowed us to exhibit it.”

So, whether you live in Madrid or are visiting on holiday, do not forget to visit this unforgettable exhibition that is sure to win any viewer over to the genius of the Spanish painter. The ‘Paris Boulevard’ painting alone is enough to make the visit worth the while.

Sorolla, One Hundred Years of Modernity, is at the Royal Collections Gallery in Madrid until 25 February 2025.

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Image: Red Digital de Colecciones de Museos de Espana

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