- 195
Valentín de Zubiaurre
Description
- Valentín de Zubiaurre
- Campesinos Vascos (Basque Peasants)
signed and dated VALENTIN DE ZUBIAURRE / 1955 lower right
oil on canvas
- 104 by 144.2cm., 41 by 56¾in.
Provenance
Acquired from the above by the present owners in 1968
Condition
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
The lack of interaction between the sitters, a characteristic trait of Zubiaurre's paintings, reflects the isolation the artist himself experienced in his personal life. Like his brother, fellow-artist Ramón, Valentín was born deaf and as a result they were constant companions, studying and travelling together throughout their lives. Yet while Ramón's art embraced colour and humour, Valentín's works searched for something more gritty, profound, and defined by history.
Zubiaurre, like his brother and other artists such as Ignacio Zuloaga, gained renown for his representations of the individuals and traditions peculiar to the Basque people. Zubiaurre's interpretations of the traditional folklore are combined with a solid knowledge of Spanish Old Masters. As Léonce Bénédite noted, Zubiaurre drew inspiration from Zurbarán and Velázquez, thus pervading his works with the austerity often found in Castilian Art (Leónce Bénédite, 'Ramón and Valentín Zubiaurre', The American Magazine of Art, January 1924, vol. 15, p. 731).
The solidity of the human figures and the simplicity of the elements at the table refer to the Basque agricultural tradition. However Zubiaurre's compositions are imbued with a depth and complexity he had learnt from his predecessors, to which he adds the drama of his own personal struggles.