HERRERA, PHANc1sco n• ( 157(-1651;), ea 1101 I.:1 Viejo (the elder). A Spanish painter of the school of Seville. Ile was the first to emancipate himself from the Italian manner then dominant ill Spain, and do assume the vigorous naturalis tie style afterwards adopted by Velazquez (q.v.). Ile may therefore be retarded as the founder of the new national school of Spain. Herrera was born at Seville in 1576, and studied painting with Luis who painted in the Italian man ner. Ile soon emancipated himself from this master, and founded a school of his own; hut his unbearable temper drove away his pupils. among whom was Velazquez, and even ills IlW11 Suns. A carver in bronze, Ilerrera was accused of counterfeiting money, and in order to avoid arrest he took sanctuary in the Jesuit College at Se ville. While there he painted the "Triumph of Saint Ilermengild," now in the Aluseuin of Seville —a picture of such merit that when it was seen by Philip IV. on his visit to the city he pardoned the artist. After his release Herrera became more unbearable than ever. 1lis wife left him; his elder son, called El Rubio, died of consump tion; ;Ind his younger. Herrera el _Nlozo, robbing his father of his money, fled to Italy. In 1650 the father went to ..Aladrid, where he died in Win.
subjects are generally sombre and tragic•, and are most lv of a religious nature, although lie sometimes painted genre. They contain all the qualities of a great artist ; a design grandiose but (correct and true to nature, especially in the nudes; a harmonious rotor, laid on, in great masses. Ile painted both in oils and al fresco, but most of his fresco-work has disappeared. His prineipal works are at Seville. Among them are the "Last Judgment," in the Church of Sall Ber nardo; four great pictures in the archiepiseopal palace, representing the "Fall of Manna." "Moses Smiting Water from the Hocks," the "Marriage at t'ana," and the "Nliraele of the Loaves and Fishes;" "Saint Peter." in the Cathedral; and
"Saint Basil," in the Museum; "Saint Augustus and Saint -Jerome." in the ..11ontpensier Collection, Seville. The Louvre has two excellent examples, "Saint Basil Ilis Doctrine." and the "Israelites Gathering Manna in the Desert ;" the Museum of Dresden. a "saint Matthe•." The fre,eoe.. with which he ornamented the facade of the convent of La Alereed. at Seville, have perished, as have also those at .Madrid. Luckily the artist himself etched a number of the latter, showing great. skill in this branch of art, as is further evident friar) his print. "Saint Peter." llis son. VnANCtsen (1622-85). called El llozo (the younger), after he had fled to Italy. painted pictures of various subjects, especially of fish. the latter with such that be was called "II Spagnuolo degli Pesci." In 16511, after his father's death, he returned to Seville. Tn 11160 he was one of the founders of the academy there, but on account of his jealousy of :Murillo (q.v.), who was made president, while Herrera was vice president, he went to Madrid in 1661. He became Court painter to Philip IV., and master of the royal works tinder Charles 11. In this office he figured as an architect, assisting in the renovation of the Cathedral of Saragossa. His work as a painter was brilliant, but manneristic. His works include the "Four Doctors of the Church Adoring the Host," Museum of Seville; the "Immaculate Conception," and "Saint FIermengild," now in the Prado :Museum; and the frescoes of the Chapel of Our Lady of Atoeha, "The Ascension of Mary." his chief work. Consult: Bermudes, Dieeionario de los mos illustros prolcsorcs (Madrid, 1800) ; Stirling Maxwell, Annals of the Artists of Spain (London, 1848).