The History of Art Early Career Research Forum: Late Zurbarán: Sacred Paintings and Secular Patrons

Dr Daniel Sobrino Ralston (CEEH Associate Curator of Spanish Paintings, National Gallery)

In his final decade, Francisco de Zurbarán (1598–1664), whose renown rests on his large, visionary paintings for religious institutions, painted more than ever before for a private clientele, adapting his subjects and his style to the devotional needs of a single viewer. In this talk, Dr Ralston explores the uncertainties that surround the artist’s late work and discusses his role in organising the National Gallery’s upcoming exhibition on Zurbarán (2 May–23 August 2026).