From the 1880s onwards, the colour and light of Spain, more intense than could be found in northern Europe, attracted several of the more progressive artists to Spain.
Among these was Arthur Melville, a member of the Glasgow Boys, a group who had introduced their own kind of Impressionism into Britain.
Melville was particularly interested in capturing the brilliant light and intense colours inherent in the surroundings. His travels abroad inspired vibrant paintings in oil and watercolour and his works in Spain, executed in strong colours and with bold technique, demonstrate an interest in abstraction.
