The artistic production of the Basque provinces is forcible and original. The Basques, with a scanty pictorial tradition, have shrewdly sought for inspiration in the Spanish sphere without distinction of locality, and have produced an art of undoubted interest. But apart from this there exists at the present time a movement of worldwide character, which seems to have a literary origin and which may, perhaps, be called, for want of a better name, the new spirit. Though still in a chaotic state, this movement, varied in its aspects, may in all lands be identified by an underlying intention to revolutionize everything, creating a new æsthetic code and turning its back on the past and on all tradition. It is not our intention to deal with this movement or to discuss its importance. Spain does not appear to be the country best fitted to lead it. Its history seems to show that while it is ready of acceptance, it is not to be hurried in its advance; nor is it eager to seize upon radical ideas. But this notwithstanding, it has painters who understand and cultivate art of this kind, and it must not be forgotten that one of the outstanding figures in the ultramodern movement is the Spaniard Picasso, who has shown once more that in all phases of artistic effort the Spanish temperament significantly reveals itself. A. DE BERUETE Y MORET. (_Translated by Lewis Spence_) [Illustration: PLATE I YAÑEZ DE LA ALMEDINA (_Collection of the Marquis de Casa-Arquedin, Madrid_) “ANTA CATALINA” (“SAINT CATHERINE”) ] [Illustration: PLATE II PANTOJA DE LA CRUZ (_Collection of H.M. The King of Spain_) “PHILIP II” ] [Illustration: PLATE III EL GRECO (_Collection of H.M. The King of Spain_) “LA GLORIA DE FELIPE II” (“THE ‘GLORY’ OF PHILIP II”) ] [Illustration: PLATE IV EL GRECO (_Provincial Museum, Toledo_) “SAN PABLO” (“SAINT PAUL”) ] [Illustration: PLATE V EL GRECO _Photo: Moreno, Madrid_ (_Church of Santo Tomé, Toledo_) “EL ENTIERRO DEL CONDE DE ORGAZ” (DETAIL.) (“THE BURIAL OF COUNT OF ORGAZ”) ] [Illustration: PLATE VI EL GRECO (_Prado Museum, Madrid_) “RETRATO DE UN CABALLERO” (“PORTRAIT OF A NOBLEMAN”) ] [Illustration: PLATE VII FRANCISCO DE RIBALTA (_Fine Art Museum, Valencia_) “SAN PEDRO” (“SAINT PETER”) ] [Illustration: PLATE VIII ZURBARAN (_Provincial Museum, Seville_) “EL BEATO DOMINICO ENRIQUE SUZON” (“THE DOMINICAN, HENRY SUZON”) ] [Illustration: PLATE IX VELAZQUEZ (_Collection of Sir Herbert Cook, Bart._) “CALABACILLAS EL BUFON” (“CALABACILLAS, THE BUFFOON”) ] [Illustration: PLATE X VELAZQUEZ _Photo: Anderson_ “LAS MENINAS” (THE MAIDS OF HONOUR)] [Illustration: PLATE XI VELAZQUEZ (_Prado Museum_, _Madrid_) “LAS MENINAS” (DETAIL) (“THE MAIDS OF HONOUR”) ] [Illustration: PLATE XII VELAZQUEZ (_National Gallery, London. By permission of Messrs. Thos. Agnew & Sons_) “VENUS Y CUPIDO” (“VENUS AND CUPID”) ] [Illustration: PLATE XIII VELAZQUEZ