Francisco Barrera Documented in Madrid 1632 - 1657

With Derek Johns, Ltd., London, from whom purchased by the present owner.

Francisco Barrera received his artistic training in Madrid in the 1620's, where Juan van der Hamen was the leading still life painter.  His style during this period clearly reflects the strong influence of Van der Hamen. By 1638 Barrera seems to have been directing a small team of painters working on the decoration of the new Buen Retiro Palace, which included the painter Antonio Ponce, Lorenzo Sanchez and Domingo de Yanguas.  Barrera remains best known for his still life paintings.  The still life genre was very popular with the Spanish court of Philip IV, Spanish nobility and even the middle class as it evoked images of favored past times, such as hunting.