Carducho's paintings in the Charterhouse of Granada

With the death of Sánchez Cotán, the cycles that decorated the cloister of the Cartuja Monastery were left unfinished, so it was necessary to commission the last works from another artist. For this reason, there are numerous paintings by Carducho in the Cartuja de Granada.

Would you like to know everything you need to know about Vicente Carducho's work in the Cartuja of Granada? Stay and read this post, we will show you everything you need to know below!

Vicente Carducho's work in Spain

Vicente Carducho arrived in Spain thanks to his brother Bartolomé, who was called to work as a fresco painter at El Escorial.

In this way, he went from being a pupil to being the king's painter under Philip III and Philip IV, becoming the most prominent artist in Madrid until the arrival of Velázquez, with whom he rivalled throughout his career.

It is worth noting that his attitude to painting and the theoretical idea he had about plastic activity is reflected in his works and in the history of painting.

In addition to his works for royal sites, churches, convents and monasteries, he also wrote the first Spanish pictorial treatise in 1633. "Diálogos de la pintura" was a classic work dedicated to painting that achieved a remarkable reputation and acclaim.

Vicente Carducho's work in Carthusian monasteries

The painter put into practice the Counter-Reformationist idea of programmatic painting in Spain through his masterpiece of 56 paintings. These were painted between 1626 and 1632 for the large cloister of the Carthusian monastery of El Paular.

In this way, he created the most extensive series on the Order ever produced in Spain. He also produced numerous paintings at the Rascafría Monastery.

The relationship between the monasteries was a constant reality, especially from the 16th century onwards, with priors, procurators, monks, laymen and artists all sharing the same monastery. This fact led Carducho to work for the Charterhouse in Granada.

The artist added 13 paintings to Sánchez Cotán's 16 and thus completed the decoration of the minor cloister of the Carthusian monastery in Granada.

Carducho's paintings in the Carthusian Monastery of the Charterhouse of Granada

Carducho's paintings in the Cartuja Monastery in Granada are divided into three sections.

One of them is the life of Saint Bruno and the origin of the Order, made up of three paintings which are now in the chapter of the laity. The works are "Saint Bruno renounces the mitre of Regio Calabria", "The vision of Victor III" and "The miraculous fountain in the tomb of Saint Bruno".

Another aspect are the martyrdoms, including: "Martyrdom of the Roermond Carthusians", "Martyrdom of the Prior of the Charterhouse of Seiz", "Burning of the Prague Charterhouse", "Martyrdom of John Rochester and James Walwortth" and "Martyrdom of four monks of Roermond".

Finally, there are 4 paintings of exemplary Carthusian monks: "Apparition of Angels Musicians to Hugo Lincoln", "Apparition of the Virgin to John Fort", "Apparition of the Virgin to Peter Faveiro" and "The Humility of Count William II of Nerves".

Buy your tickets to the Monastery of the Cartuja of Granada

As you have seen throughout this article on Carducho's paintings in the Cartuja de Granada, this monument has a spectacular interior decoration, based on works of art by notable painters, sculptors and architects of the time.

If you would like to visit this beautiful temple, you can buy your tickets to the Cartuja of Granada through our official website of the Archdiocese of Granada.

Let yourself be surprised by this site and enjoy its great beauty!