José Villegas Cordero (1844 –1921 was a Spanish painter of
historical, genre and costumbrism scenes.
His father ran a barbershop, and his family had their doubts
about an artistic career. But, in 1860, when he was still only sixteen, he sold
one of his works at the "Exposición Sevillana" for 2,000 Reales. This
changed his family's mind and he was apprenticed to the painter José María
Romero López, staying with him for two years before enrolling at the Escuela de
Bellas Artes de Sevilla.
He went on to work in Madrid, Rome and Morocco.
The 1890s began quietly but, in 1896, his younger brother
Ricardo (who was also an artist) drowned after he fell off a boat on the
Guadalquivir. This plunged him into depression and he began painting works of
an ecclesiastical nature. Two years later, he was appointed Director of the
"Academia española de Bellas Artes en Roma". In 1901, in recognition
of his work there, he was named Director of the Museo del Prado; abandoning his
studio in Rome and returning to Madrid.
He held that post until 1918 and
presided over a major reorganization. During that time, he also established a
new reputation as a portrait painter. He resigned due to negative publicity
following a jewellery theft by one of the museum's guards.
I love Spanish Art, Culture, Wine, Food...ahhhh...i just LOVE Spain (L)(L)(L)(L). I wish there were MORE of Spain in Canada and the U.S.A.
ReplyDeleteI assume the first picture is a self-portrait. What a great self-take on how he thought he looked. And, what a beret in the second picture! "Depression leading to religion" - sounds about right. It may be that he came right in the end.
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