Francisco Sanchis Cortés in Silos
Francisco Sanchis Cortés came to Ribera del Duero along with his paintings in autumn 2018. A Saturday afternoon a group of people gathered, I guess most of them laypeople, but keen on the art of painting and eager to learn something new.
This valencian’s paintings have been displayed in Madrid, Mexico, England, Netherlands, Belgium, Miami, London, Berlin, New York and Dubai. He’s collaborated with Aldeas Infantiles (SOS Children’s Villages) and the Real Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País (Royal Economic Society of Friends of the Country) as well.
That exhibition set up in Aranda with the title “Damas de Blanco” (“Ladies in White”) was made up of paintings starred by women: lonely, thoughtful, reflective women, alone or with other women, girls and female children. Pale and soft colours in light, rose and sweet hues that give the space something of a romantic atmosphere. Impressionism is the painter’s tool of choice to convey us a feeling or an instant of tranquility, of quiet reflection on his characters.
In a spot closer to Arlanza river, rather than Duero river, in Silos Monastery, Sanchis Cortés, presents his series “Music for an exhibition”. Silos is a hidden and extraordinary place, suitable to house art pieces. Let’s remember that here, during the Middle Ages, “Glosas” were written, those texts in incipient Castilian, handwritten, that’s to say, “written by the [medieval monk’s] hand” in order to explain the original texts in latin. In Silos, at the center of the cloister of the monastery, stands the cypress, celebrated by generation ‘27 poet Gerardo Diego in his well known sonnet:
“Enhiesto surtidor de sombra y sueño
que acongojas el cielo con tu lanza.
Chorro que a las estrellas casi alcanza
devanado a sí mismo en loco empeño […]”(*)
Precisely to Silos came a few years ago, before he died, semiotician and writer Umberto Eco, invited by Burgos institutions. He really looked forward to see and touch some of the oldest codices in the world, written within the walls of the monastery eleven centuries ago, something that eventually became part of his novel “The Name of the Rose”.
And in Silos we can listen to Gregorian chant, voices that touch us and bring us centuries back in the past.
“Music for an exhibition”, therefore, brings to Silos the canvas where the painter depicts ballet and opera scenes. Highly beautiful pictures mingle with violent, strange, epic ones as well, where naked women and well-built men ride on powerful horses. Scenes full of movement that the painter want to display even in a bold way. But Sanchis Cortés also bets on composer portraits. Just remember the one representing Austrian Anton Bruckner or Spanish soprano Ainoha Arteta, in private collections.
The extraordinary background Monasterio de Silos represents is bound to let many people know this valencian painter’s work. And I don’t refer to the tourist busy just on snapping away, but to the one fond of artistic detail, who bets on a rising artist.
(*) “Erect source of shelter and sleep / that intimidate the heavens with your spear. / Jet that the stars almost reach / self consumed by crazy will […]”.
TOMÁS MEDINA REBOLLO
A University of Salamanca Hispanic Philology graduate
“Ribera del Duero” Roa de Duero’s high school principal
Collaborator of “Diario de Burgos” newspaper