L a - b e a u t é - s a u v e r a - l e - m o n d e ~ D o s t o ï e v s k i

L a - b e a u t é - s a u v e r a - l e - m o n d e  ~  D o s t o ï e v s k i



Sunday, March 26, 2017

An artist's artist friends - portraits of painters and sculptors by Federico de Madrazo y Kuntz


(Detail of below.)

Only recently have I begun to pay more attention to the paintings of Madazo y Kuntz. I think I previously found them too dark, too sober, too stereotypically "Spanish"; all those black clothes, you know. But looking closer, there's such a wonderful truthfulness to his work. His brushwork is tender and exquisite. And many of his portraits - some of those here, certainly - have the silvery elegance of a Velázquez. He painted and drew many portraits of his fellow artists - this is only a selection - most of which display a charming intimacy, an expression of the friendship shared by artist and subject; several are inscribed "A su amigo".

 Cosme Algarra y Hurtado, 1870.
Benito Soriano Murillo, 1855.
José Siro Pérez, 1839.
 Carlos de Haes, 1867.
 Eduardo Rosales Gallinas, 1867.
Edmund Wodick (Ludwig Eduard Edmund Wodick), 1845.
 Vicente Poleró y Toledo, 1873.
Carlos Luis de Ribera y Fievé, 1839.
Karl Müller, 1842.
Ventura de la Vega (Born Buenaventura José María de la Vega y Cárdenas), 1849. (OK, I admit it: I snuck a writer in.)
Perugino Sensi (Gaspare Sensi, also known as Gaspar Sensi y Baldachi), 1873.
Claudio Lorenzale i Sugrañes, 1841.
Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta, the artist's son, also a very successful painter, 1875. Inscribed, " A mi querido hijo Raymundo".




4 comments:

  1. The writer can stay since he has luxurious mustachios as well. I love the (hidden) smile Claudio has in the last drawing.

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    1. Yes, that subtle smile. I wasn't even sure I wanted to include the drawings, but señor Lorenzale i Sugrañes' smile was just too charming not to include him. : )

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