Joaquín Sorolla (born in Valencia 1863 - died in Cercedilla 1923) is one of the most successful Spanish painters ever. He was a genius in capturing the essence of the scene he was painting.
Some of the first nudes by Sorolla were gifted to his future father in law, the photographer Antonio Garcia and mother in law Clotilde del Castillo.
When Sorolla won a stipend to study in Rome, nudes were obligatory, but his skills developed being able to convey expressions that the jury back in Valencia found morally improper.
Sorolla painted two magnificent nudes of his wife, a beautiful tribute to their love.
Joaquín Sorolla however, is especially famous for his nudes of happy children and youth on the beach under the dazzling Valencian sun.