Francisco De Zurbaran

Francisco de Zurbarán (1598 - 1664) was a Spanish painter. He is known primarily for his religious paintings depicting monks, nuns, and martyrs, and for his still-lifes. The painter thought by some art historians to have had the greatest influence on his characteristically severe compositions was Juan Sánchez Cotán. He painted his figures directly from nature, and he made great use of the lay-figure in the study of draperies, in which he was particularly proficient.