José Benlliure Gil

JOSÉ BENLLIURE GIL (Valencia, 1855 - 1937).
"In the stable.
Oil on panel.
Signed in the lower left corner.
Measurements: 14 x 21 cm; 29 x 36 cm (frame).
Brother of the painter Juan Antonio and the sculptor Mariano, José Benlliure cultivated mainly the costumbrista subject matter and the portrait, with a very personal style that portrayed both simple and grandiose subjects. He began his artistic studies with Francisco Domingo in Valencia, to later continue his training in Madrid, where he settled in 1869. In 1879, in view of his talent, he was sent to the Spanish Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, where he became director between 1903 and 1913. In 1897 he made a trip to Tangier, Algeria and Morocco, where he produced more luminous and free works, with an impressionist influence. From 1900 onwards, his work depicts popular themes. He took part in the National Exhibitions of Fine Arts, obtaining third medals in the editions of 1876 and 1878 and first in 1887, with his canvas "The vision of the Coliseum. The last martyr" (Prado). In his beginnings he dedicated himself to genre painting but later, advised by the Italian painter Domenico Morelli, he produced works of greater commitment, such as "San Vicente Ferrer preaching about the Last Judgment". In addition to the costumbrista themes, he worked on religious themes, with paintings in which there is a part of clear fantastic and symbolist evocation. A work that gave him very good results was the combination of the costumbrista with the religious, he developed works such as "Oyendo misa" or "Misa en la ermita". Like many artists of the time, he treated the subjects of altar boys, showing the mischief and mischief of children. Another facet of Benlliure has to do with the depiction of characters and places of his family environment, in which he transmits images of great freshness and colorfulness. He belonged to the Academies of San Fernando (Madrid), San Lucas (Rome), San Carlos (Valencia), Brera (Milan) and Munich. The most important part of his production is preserved in Valencia, in his House Museum and in the Museum of Fine Arts San Pío V. He is also represented in the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Palace of Charles V in Granada, among others.