Visual hedonism meets stringent classicism in the radiant figures of celebrated Spanish painter Royo.
He is a true artist in every sense. His deeply poetic nature comes across strongly in his work which explores the myriad combinations of light and colour that come to together to express the grace and beauty of the female form.
Sunlight slanting across a skein of fabric or shimmering on an exposed shoulder gives a vibrant intensity to each creative masterpiece. His unfettered brushstrokes and heavy impasto combine to create something alive, brimming with suppressed movement and a uniquely luminous sensuality.
Born in 1941 in Valencia, Royo trained at the San Carlos Royal Academy of Fine Arts; he continued his artistic studies privately with Aldolfo Ferrer Amblat, Chairman of Art Studies at the San Carlos Academy and concentrated on the techniques and subjects of such masters as Velasquez, Goya, Renoir, Monet, and Sorolla, among others.
He was successful in a number of prestigious competitions and his work came to the notice of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia. He was commissioned to paint the royal portraits and subsequently overwhelmed with commissions to paint prominent politicians and society figures.
Life, as reflected by Royo in his paintings is serene, yet carries great emotional force. The sweeping brush strokes, bold swathes of colour, and the dramatic texture of the heavy impasto capture the eye and draw the viewer into a heightened state of awareness. Through his paintings he tells us that life must be lived with commitment, passion, intensity and dedication to beauty.
