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Lot Essay
This major history painting was an important commission for Sorolla from the 2nd Marqueses de Torrelaguna. It depicts a scene from José Zorrilla's great romance poem La Sorpresa de Zahara (1481).
Casi desnudos los llevan
A todos por mas deshonra
Hasta el centro de la plaza
Donde a la interperie expongan
La desnudez de las carnes
Su temblor y sus congojas
The poem recounts the turbulent history of the city of Zahra in the late 15th century. This beautiful city, situated in Andalusia between Ronda and Medina was founded by the Moors in the 8th century. During the Reconquista it was the scene of firece fighting between the Moors and Christians. King Hazen of Granada finally captured the city, sacking it and taking the population as slaves back to Granada.
The present work depicts the moment when the prisoners are led into Granada, through the Puerto de Elvira.
Casi desnudos los llevan
A todos por mas deshonra
Hasta el centro de la plaza
Donde a la interperie expongan
La desnudez de las carnes
Su temblor y sus congojas
We are grateful to Blanca Pons Sorolla for her assistance in preparing this catalogue entry, and she will include this work in her forthcoming Sorolla catalogue raisonné.
Casi desnudos los llevan
A todos por mas deshonra
Hasta el centro de la plaza
Donde a la interperie expongan
La desnudez de las carnes
Su temblor y sus congojas
The poem recounts the turbulent history of the city of Zahra in the late 15th century. This beautiful city, situated in Andalusia between Ronda and Medina was founded by the Moors in the 8th century. During the Reconquista it was the scene of firece fighting between the Moors and Christians. King Hazen of Granada finally captured the city, sacking it and taking the population as slaves back to Granada.
The present work depicts the moment when the prisoners are led into Granada, through the Puerto de Elvira.
Casi desnudos los llevan
A todos por mas deshonra
Hasta el centro de la plaza
Donde a la interperie expongan
La desnudez de las carnes
Su temblor y sus congojas
We are grateful to Blanca Pons Sorolla for her assistance in preparing this catalogue entry, and she will include this work in her forthcoming Sorolla catalogue raisonné.