Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
(1617 - 1682)

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo was a Spanish Baroque painter. Although he is best known for his religious works, Murillo also produced a considerable number of paintings of contemporary women and children. These lively realistic portraits of flower girls, street urchins, and beggars constitute an extensive and appealing record of the everyday life of his times. He also painted two self-portraits, one in the Frick Collection portraying him in his 30s, and one in London's National Gallery portraying him about 20 years later. In 2017–18, the two museums held an exhibition of them.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartolomé_Esteban_Murillo

Nicolás Omazur
1672
Oil on canvas
83 x 73 cm
Museo del Prado
https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/nicolas-omazur/83b32eaf-4999-4ba3-811d-501fdcf6b3e7

Born in Antwerp in 1609, Omazur was a friend and admirer of Murillo’s. He established himself as a merchant in Seville where he wrote poetry and collected painting. The austerity of the image links it to the Spanish and Flemish traditions, while the presence of the skull transforms it into a “Vanitas”, inviting us to reflect on the transience of worldly glory.