Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida: A Life Bathed in Light Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida, a name synonymous with the radiant light and vibrant energy of Spain, was more than just a painter; he was a chronicler of his nation’s soul. Born in Valencia in 1863, Sorolla's early life was marked by tragedy. Orphaned at the tender age of two following a cholera epidemic that claimed both parents, young Joaquín and his sister were raised by their maternal aunt and uncle. This early experience with loss perhaps instilled within him a profound appreciation for the fleeting beauty of life – a sentiment that would pe…