Hyper-Realism Artist: Pedro de Mena (1628-1688)

THE INDEPENDENT
By Michael Glover

Mary Magdalene Meditating on the Crucifixion, 1664, By Pedro de Mena

SPAIN---Art itself is a kind of prestidigitation, illusionism, magic. It cajoles us into giving credence to the reality of pretence. There is the illusionism of art – and then there are the various additional levels of illusionism that seem to be encouraged, if not demanded, by religious belief. Here on this page is another way of selling the idea of religious belief to the credulous onlooker. It involves the shock of what we have in recent years come to call hyper-realism, which was a very fashionable tactic in Spain during the 17th century. Pedro de Mena, born the son of a sculptor in Grenada, was celebrated for his intensely realistic sculptors of religious subjects. Famous in his day and much in demand, he became especially renowned for his lifelike, contemplative depictions of Christ as the Man of Sorrows and The Virgin of Sorrows. [link]