Other names

Biography

Nicolás Francés is considered one of the most significant artists of the mid-15th century and a leading figure of the International Gothic style in León. Although his exact city of origin remains unknown, he is believed to have been of French descent. His presence in León is documented from the late first third of the 15th century, where he worked as a painter, miniaturist, carver, and stained glass designer (De los Ríos y Serrano, 1895; Sánchez Cantón, 1964). He is thought to have arrived in León in the early 1430s, as a chronicle dated to 1434 mentions that he had completed work on the main altarpiece of the León Cathedral, which was dismantled in the 18th century. His involvement in the cathedral extended beyond the altarpiece; he also designed stained glass windows and painted murals in some of the chapels, such as those of Saints Fabian and Sebastian. In addition to his work in León, he was active in Zamora, as evidenced by the paintings he created for the church of San Miguel Arcángel in Villalpando (Rebollo, 2007). His painting style is characterised by naturalism, a strong narrative impulse, and a significant Italian influence (Post, 1966). Numerous works attributed to Nicolás Francés are found in museums and collections—many of which were likely parts of altarpieces. Notable examples include the Altarpiece of the Life of the Virgin and Saint Francis (Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid), the Miracle of Mount Gargano (Museo Nacional de Arte de Cataluña, Barcelona), and the Mass of Saint Gregory (National Gallery, London).

Bibliography

• DE LOS RÍOS Y SERRANO, Demetrio (1895): La catedral de León, Imprenta del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, Madrid.
• POST, Chandler Rathfon (1966): A History of Spanish Painting, vol. 14 (The Later Renaissance in Castile), Harvard University Press (ed. de Harold E. Wethey), Cambridge (Massachusetts).
• REBOLLO GUTIÉRREZ, Carmen (2007): "Maese Nicolás Francés: su obra y estilo. Estado de la cuestión", nº 6, De Arte.
• SÁNCHEZ CANTÓN, Francisco Javier (1964): Maestre Nicolás Francés, Instituto Diego Velázquez, Madrid.