In 1630, the Spanish artist Francisco de Zurbarán (1598–1664) was appointed painter to King Philip IV of Spain. According to legend, the enthralled ruler was known to put his hand on Zurbarán’s shoulder and say, “Painter to the king, king of painters.” Because the work was characterized by a harsh, realist style and a forceful use of chiaroscuro, Zurbarán was often called the “Spanish Caravaggio.” His altarpieces and genre paintings live on in cathedrals around Spain. As for still life paintings, there’s only one that’s signed and dated (1633) by the artist, and it wasn’t rediscovered until the 1920s: Still Life with Citrons, Oranges and a Rose. Against a very dark background, the three subjects are placed equidistant from one another, demonstrating a perfect spatial balance. The masterwork—on loan from the Norton Simon Museum, in Pasadena—is now on view at the Prado. —Elena Clavarino