Sevillian school; second half of the XVII century.

Sevillian school; second half of the seventeenth century.
"The nuptials of the Virgin" and "The Nativity".
Oil on canvas (x2).
Measurements: 41,5 x 63 cm.
Set formed by works of the Sevillian school of the second half of the seventeenth century. One of them represents the Adoration of the Shepherds: This scene shows the Virgin Mary kneeling next to the manger where the Child Jesus lies, while St. Joseph and several shepherds observe with humility. The composition captures a moment of recollection and devotion, emphasized by the gestures and reverent gazes of the characters. The other painting depicts The Marriage of the Virgin: Here the marriage ceremony between the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph is represented, officiated by a priest. Mary and Joseph hold hands, and above them appears the dove of the Holy Spirit surrounded by small angels. The sacred setting is reinforced by architectural details in the background.
Both paintings share stylistic elements characteristic of the Sevillian school, such as the use of chiaroscuro to create drama, a palette of warm, earthy colors, and a focus on the expressive devotion of the characters, which brings emotional depth and spirituality to the scenes.
The 17th century marked the arrival of the Baroque in the Sevillian school, with the triumph of naturalism over Mannerist idealism, loose workmanship and many other aesthetic liberties. At this time the school reached its greatest splendor, both for the quality of the works and for the primordial rank of Sevillian Baroque painting. Thus, during the transition to Baroque we find Juan del Castillo, Antonio Mohedano and Francisco Herrera el Viejo, in whose works the rapid brushstroke and the crude realism of the style is already manifested, and Juan de Roelas, introducer of Venetian colorism. In the middle of the century the period reached its peak, with figures such as Zurbarán, a young Alonso Cano and Velázquez. Finally, in the last third of the century we find Murillo and Valdés Leal, founders in 1660 of an Academy where many of the painters active during the first quarter of the 18th century were trained, such as Meneses Osorio, Sebastián Gómez, Lucas Valdés and others.