SALZILLO

Francisco Salzillo y Alcaraz (21 May 1707 – 2 March 1783) was a Spanish sculptor He was born in Murcia. He is the most representative Spanish image-maker of the 18th century and one of the greatest artist of the Baroque. Francisco Salzillo worked exclusively on religious themes, and usually in polychromed wood. He made hundred of pieces that are distributed throughout the Region of Murcia and some in bordering provinces.

Salzillo founded the so- called Sculpture School of Murcia, extended beyond its time and that has remained effective to the present time, because both his first followers and those who have followed up to date have continued stylistic models of Salzillo. There is a Museum in Murcia dedicated to Salzillo. His main works are:

LA ULTIMA CENA The Last Supper: It was created in 1763 and it is formed by thirteen figures (Jesus and 12 Apostles) seated around a table.

LA ORACION DEL HUERTO The prayer of the garden: created in 1754, where we can see, on the one hand, an angel showing the chalice to Jesus, and on the other hand, the scene of the three sleeping apostles under the palm tree.

EL PRENDIMIENTO O EL BESO DE JUDAS The Arrest or The Kiss of Judas: it was created in 1754, it contrasts the faces of Jesus and Judas, allowing a comparison of beauty and kindness of the former as opposed to the ugliness and evil of the latter.

JESÙS EN LA COLUMNA O LOS AZOTES Jesus at the Column or The Flagellation: sculpted in 1777, it shows the face of Jesus full of serenity and resignation enduring the lashes which he receives.

SANTA MUJER VERÒNICA The Holy Woman Veronica: it was created in 1755, it shows the Verónica with a dolorous expression, taking between her hands the cloth on which is miraculously imprinted the face of Jesus.

LA CAÌDA The Fall: created in 1752.

SAN JUAN Y LA DOLOROSA Saint John: was created in The Virgin of Sorrows: was created in 1756.

EL BELÈN The Nativity Scene: was created between 1780 and 1800, it was begun by Salzillo and extended by his disciple Roque López. It is a set of 556 mud figures of about 30 cm. of height

FIN these sculptures can be seen in Eastern only in Murcia