José Luzán

José Luzán, also José Luzán y Martínez (1710-1785), was a Spanish Baroque painter.

Son of the painter and gilder of retablos Juan Luzán. Zabalo married Teresa, daughter of John Zabalo who was also a painter and designer of altarpieces.

Thanks to the patronage of the Pignatelli family Luzán studied in Naples, where he met the Italian Baroque master Giuseppe Mastroleo. He returned to Zaragoza around 1730 to establish an academy, which enjoyed great success. He was named reviewer of paintings by the Spanish Inquisition, and in 1741 was appointed by Philip V of Spain as supernumerary painter of the Royal House. The study of the rich collections of the palace allowed him to considerably refine his style. Next to the gloomy tone of his early works, he then acquired a taste for warm coloring, dominating with the yellow, ocher and red in his palette, and lightened the burden of his brushstrokes. In the 1760s he executed large works and bold composition, which made clear his status as one of the brightest eighteenth century painters of religious subjects.