The world of culture mourns the death of art historian Valeriano Bozal, who died this Sunday in Madrid at the age of 82. Specializing in literature, art in Spain and Hispanic history, he was considered one of the foremost experts on Francisco de Goya in the world. Likewise, he was also an expert in Vermeer, Piero della Francesca or Brueghel, among other artists.
His beginnings, on the other hand, had nothing to do with the world of canvases. Born in Madrid in November 1940, he began studying Philosophy at the Complutense University, a course from which he ended up graduating and which led him to work as a professor.
By then he was already showing his inclination for art, publishing in specialized magazines some articles on modernism, the work of Maurice Merleau-Ponty or the impact of Marx and Engels on the world of art.
His extensive knowledge led him to become a regular contributor to some art centers, such as the Prado Museum, which throughout his professional career has awarded him various distinctions.
With this same gallery, he presented various exhibitions on Goya and took part in the collaborative and research project known as the Encyclopedia of the Prado Museum, a tool for the study and knowledge of the works that are preserved in the institution.
In his professional years, he also published several books and essays, among which Imagen de Goya stands out, a true declaration of love that offers a new perspective on the Aragonese painter.
He also collaborated with various media, such as the magazine Artes and, well into the Transition, he directed the magazine of the Communist Party of Spain, Nuestra bandera, in which he wrote about politics and the influence that communism can have on society and art.
