3-098-965 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Parsifal, 1910. Parsifal is an opera by Richard Wagner (1813-1883) inspired by the Arthurian legend of the Holy Grail. To save the King from a grave illness, Parsifal must recover the Grail from the treacherous sorcerer Klingsor and his beautiful houris. Parsifal's victory is due to his renunciation of the temptation of carnal pleasure, his self-sufficiency, and his asceticism. Legends about Wagnerian characters were a primary theme in the works of Egusquiza, who was not only of paramount importance for the introduction of Wagnerism in Spain, but also an honorary member of the Wagnerian Association and an inspiration for Wagnerian themes among his disciples and colleagues. In this instance, Egusquiza highlights the spirituality of the subject through the contrast of light and the symbolist character of the scene.