The Work of Divino Morales at the National Museum of Art of Catalonia (MNAC)

Luis de Morales was born in the early 16th century, in 1510 or 1511 and probably died in 1586. Since the 18th century he has been known as The Divine, due mostly to the religious nature of much of his work. He is known for being one of the most prolific artists of his generation. During the five decades in which he was active he created numerous paintings and altarpieces. The location of his workshop in Extremadura allowed also him to maintain close contact with Portugal, where many of his compositions ended up.

The exhibition devoted to him at the MNAC, which is scheduled to run from the 17th of June to the 25th of September offers an exhaustive introduction to his style, which combines a markedly commercial approach with Castilian and Flemish influences. He subtly conveyed the spiritual atmosphere of his period in his religious images. Simply composed and very familiar to believers, they were visually highly effective and possessed an unmistakeable emotional charge.

The 54 works on display in the exhibition, which are divided into five sections, include some of his most important work, Virgin of the Bird, from 1546.