A Patio in Granada

Fortuny y Marsal was born in Spain but spent much of his adult life in Rome. His travels throughout Europe and North Africa influenced his work, which combined a rigorous study of composition with realism in detail, intensity of color, and thick brushstrokes to convey texture and shading. During a two-year stay in Granada, Fortuny painted this rustic scene; a preparatory drawing identifies the site as the Casa de Cocheros. Washed in sunlight and set against a vibrant Andalusian sky, the scene reveals the painter’s interest in the natural world.