PROVINCE OF CADIZ.

The traveller who goes to the ancient city of Cádiz can see first class paintings and sculptures.

Among the former, there are three paintings by Francisco de Goya that have a religious theme, which is unusual for this painter. The paintings are the Miracle of the Fish and the Loaves, the Invitation of the Head of the Family and the Last Supper (Oratorio de la Santa Cueva, El Rosario parish).

However, the main attraction is the Francisco de Zurbarán paintings (1638-39), painted for the high altar of the Carthusian monastery in Jerez. There is still a series of paintings on canvas and on wood from the original order, of exceptional quality, that are considered among his best (Cádiz Museum).

Lastly, also in the Cádiz Museum, there is the Holy Family by Rubens (17th century), which is a small painting on copper. Among the sculptures, we have the outstanding carvings by Luisa Roldán. Her Ecce Homo (1684) is a work of intense baroque dramatism in the Cathedral museum.

The Anthropoid Sarcophagi (470-400 BC) are unique in the Mediterranean (Archaeological Museum). The masculine sarcophagus appeared in 1887 and a Century later, the feminine one with similar characteristics was discovered.

Archaeologists relate them to a funerary tradition from Egypt and to the trade of Gades with cities of the eastern Mediterranean.

There are two remarkable altarpieces in the province of Cadiz. One is the high altar of the church of San Pedro at Arcos de la Frontera, by Hernando de Esturmio (1539). His long list of works clearly shows the influence of Flemish mannersits on Andalusian art in the mid-16th century.

The other is the high altar of the church of San Miguel in Jerez de la Frontera, by Martínez Montañés (1617-1643), which corresponds to his best period.