 Spanish Romantic Panorama:

Romanticism is a complex period that show

different features depending on the country where it
is developped. In Spain Romanticism is
afeeling rather than a thought. We have to consider
the historical events on wich it is projected. Arrival
of Napoleon troops in Peninsule will
provoke Spanish Independence War: it is a F. Padilla Ortiz (1848-1921),
typical romantic war. Juana the Fool.

As Romantic movement begins, many spanish

artists will cultivate the different aspects of this new cultural chapter.

 genders:

1º.- Portrait:

One of the most outstanding authors in this gender

was Federico de Madrazo (1815-1894). He is seen as
one of the most important portraitists in
spanish Romanticism as well as in the whole Europe. We
can appreciate from his works a perfection in drawing and
a psychological study of persons. His production is
numerous: he painted hundreds of portraits. He was a
chamber painter and, twice, a director of Prado Museum.

Antonio Esquivel (1806-1857) was also an

important portraitist, born in Seville. We can observe in
his works an academic touch. He gave his creatures a
sentimentalism according with romantic ideals. Federico de Madrazo,
Countess of Vilches, c.1853.
 J.Pérez Villamil,
2º.- Landscape: Arrival of the Train to Gijon, 1852.

Landscape is another typical gender in Romanticism. Nature is useful for

painters to project freely their feelings and subjectivity.

Before Romanticism, landscape appeared as a background for portraits or

pictures on History, specially in Barroque. Objects without a didactic purpose were
not considered as art. Now, in 19th century, landscape becomes a new gender as
important as picture on History.

One of the most important artists was Jenaro López de Villamil (1807-
1854). He used for his landscapes a nervous and pasted touch of brush in order to
get softer and more delicate atmospheres.

3º.- painting on Customs:

The so-called Romantic Art on

Customs is representated by "brave
vein" painters as Eugenio Lucas
(1858-1918) and Leonardo Alenza
(1807-1845). They take Goya as a
master and keep a popular
ambiance of brave girls, bandits,
bullfightings, toreros, inquisitorial
acts and sorcerers. Eugenio Lucas Villamil,
Scene of Bulls,c.1890-1900.
Their touch of brush looks like
a sketch full of chromatic matter, pointing to Impressionism.

4º.- Historical painting:

This gender was developped not only

in Romanticism, but also
in Barroque and Neoclassicism, as is shown
in David matters. Canvas on History are
usually of a big size. About the second half of
19th century the gender achieves a singular
importance. That was due to competions Eduardo Rosales,
organized by St. Fernando Academy and Will of Isabel la Católica.
other National Exhibitions. Historical
subjects are often a cause for winning a medal.
 o Artists:
o Antonio Gisbert (1834-1901)
o José Casado del Alisal
(1832-1886)
o Eduardo Rosales (1836-
1873)
o Mariano Fortuny (1838-
1874)

Antonio Gisbert,
Comuners of Castille.