Eternal stones, shifting light: Joaquín Sorolla’s vision of Italy’s built heritage

Abstract

This study explores how Sorolla’s lesser-known Italian works reveal his strong engagement with the built environment. Beyond his famous Mediterranean scenes, these paintings serve as valuable visual documents of Italy’s architectural and urban conditions at a moment of tension between tradition and modernity.
By analyzing selected works from Rome, Venice, and Assisi, the research shows how Sorolla’s treatment of light, color, and composition not only aestheticized but also carefully recorded architectural heritage. His views highlight the tension between permanence and change, emphasizing materiality, states of preservation, and the dialogue between buildings and their natural or urban surroundings.
Using a multidisciplinary approach that blends art history, architectural theory, and heritage studies, the paper interprets these paintings as both artistic achievements and historical testimonies. It considers how Sorolla’s depictions reflect the technical and cultural knowledge of his time while revealing his strong connection to the Mediterranean built environment. The study also explores their relevance for current discussions on heritage preservation amid rapid urban and environmental transformation.
The study places Sorolla’s Italian works within broader debates on how cultural landscapes are represented and preserved, highlighting the lasting importance of art in documenting and interpreting the built environment. It ultimately argues for reconsidering Sorolla’s legacy, viewing him not only as a master of light but also a unintended recorder of architectural history.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.20365/disegnarecon.35.2025.6