Spanish art is represented by just one work in the collection of the Primorye State Art Gallery. However, such an exhibit is a rarity for Russian museums; the work dates back to the 16th century — at that time, Spanish art had not yet entered the period of its elevation. The heyday of Spanish painting came in the 17th century — it was a truly golden age, and before that the art of Spanish painters had been very archaic.

Spain was the first feudal country in Europe where the system of absolute monarchy was developed to the fullest. The Roman Catholic Church, which enjoyed great power and controlled all areas of spiritual activity, exerted a great influence on the development of art, which predetermined many of its features and peculiarities. As a result, it was not until much later that humanistic ideas found their way into Spanish art.

From the book “Universal History of Art”:

In the 16th century, Spain waged numerous wars of conquest, the country was weakened, and the art of the time was in decline.

The unknown artist of the “Portrait of a Dominican Monk” seems to contrast the figure of Christ, who is depicted as “small and insignificant”, with the figure of the monk — fanatical, hanging over like a rock. The Catholic monastic Order of the Dominicans (also known as the Order of Preachers) was founded in the 13th century by the Spanish monk Dominic de Guzman Garces, who a few years after his death was canonized by Pope Gregory IX. The motto of the Order:

Fighting against heresy and preaching of the Gospel are among the key objectives of the Dominicans.