Francisco de Zurbarán, November 7, 1598 – August 27, 1664, was a Spanish painter born in Fuente de Cantos in Extremadura. He was apprenticed in Seville to Pedro Díaz de Villanueva and established an early workshop in Llerena before returning to Seville.

Zurbarán became closely associated with the city’s religious institutions and received major commissions from the Dominicans, Mercedarians, Franciscans, and Carthusians. He specialized in devotional paintings, monastic subjects, saints, portraits, and still lifes, using sharply defined forms and strong contrasts of light and shadow.

Zurbarán moved to Madrid during the 1650s and remained there until his death. His paintings are held in major collections including the Museo Nacional del Prado, National Gallery in London, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Museum of Fine Arts of Seville.