15th–16th centuries
- Fernando Yáñez de la Almedina (c. 1475 – 1536) – Early Renaissance painter active in Seville, known for religious works such as Madonna and Child.
- Alonso Berruguete (c. 1488 – 1561) – Primarily a sculptor, but also produced Altarpiece paintings in the Mannerist style.
17th century (Baroque)
- Diego Velázquez (1599 – 1660) – Court painter to Philip IV; celebrated for Las Meninas and numerous portraits of the royal family.
- Francisco de Zurbarán (1598 – 1664) – Noted for austere religious compositions, e.g., Christ on the Cross and The Apotheosis of Saint Thomas Aquinas.
- Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617 – 1682) – Renowned for soft, sentimental depictions of the Immaculate Conception and genre scenes of Andalusian life.
- Jusepe de Ribera (1591 – 1652) – Spanish‑born, active in Naples; known for tenebristic realism in works like The Martyrdom of Saint Bartholomew.
18th century (Rococo and Neoclassicism)
- Francisco de Goya y Lucientes (1746 – 1828) – Transitional figure between the Old Masters and modern art; famous for The Third of May 1808 and the Caprichos series.
19th century (Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism)
- Mariano Fortuny (1838 – 1874) – Painter and draftsman noted for luminous Orientalist scenes such as The Spanish Wedding.
- Joaquín Sorolla (1863 – 1923) – Impressionist‑influenced landscapist and portraitist, celebrated for his luminous seaside scenes like The Promenade (La Vuelta del Agua).
Early‑20th century (Modernism and Avant‑Garde)
- Pablo Picasso (1881 – 1973) – Born in Málaga; co‑founder of Cubism, creator of seminal works such as Les Demoiselles d'Avignon and Guernica.
- Salvador Dalí (1904 – 1989) – Leading Surrealist, known for dreamlike imagery in The Persistence of Memory.
- Juan Gris (1887 – 1927) – Prominent Cubist painter, recognized for works like Portrait of Picasso.
- Joan Miró (1893 – 1983) – Catalan painter whose abstract, biomorphic forms contributed to Surrealism and later Abstract Expressionism.
Mid‑ to late‑20th century (Abstract, Informalism, Contemporary)
- Antoni Tàpies (1923 – 2012) – Catalan painter and sculptor, central figure of Informalism; notable for textured mixed‑media canvases.
- Eduardo Chillida (1924 – 2002) – Primarily known as a sculptor, but produced abstract painterly works later in his career.
- Manuel Millares (1926 – 2004) – Painter associated with the “Informalismo” movement; recognized for his heavily textured collages.
- Miquel Barceló (born 1957) – Contemporary painter whose work spans figurative, abstract, and land art; represented Spain at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Contemporary Spanish painters (active 2000s onward)
- José Manuel Broto (born 1949) – Painter linked to the “Lyrical Abstraction” movement, noted for geometric compositions.
- Carmen Laffón (born 1934) – Renowned for still lifes and portraits characterized by refined realism.
- Antonio López García (born 1936) – Realist painter celebrated for meticulous urban and domestic scenes, such as Gran Vía, Madrid.
This list includes painters widely recognized in art historical literature as having Spanish nationality or primary activity in Spain. It is not exhaustive; many additional artists have contributed to Spain’s rich painting tradition.
