VICENTE LÓPEZ PORTAÑA

(1772 / 1850)

VICENTE LÓPEZ PORTAÑA Valencia (1772) / Madrid (1850) "María Isabel de Braganza, Queen of Spain", c. 1816

Pastel on paper. On the reverse, an old handwritten inscription on the frame indicates its former provenance: "Srta. de Larra. Hermosilla 20." Provenance: Madrid, former collection of José Lázaro Galdiano. Bibliography: OSSORIO Y BERNARD, M., Galería biográfica de artistas españoles del Siglo XIX, Madrid, second edition, 1883-1884, p. 390; DÍEZ, JL, Vicente López (1772-1850) Catálogo razonado, vol. II, p. 281, cat. no. PS-11. The Valencian Vicente López was the most representative painter of the Spanish court during the first third of the 19th century. He developed a remarkable career as a religious painter, decorator, and draughtsman, also standing out as a portraitist for his prodigious technique. First Court Painter since 1815, he made numerous portraits of King Ferdinand VII and his family, an example of which is the work presented here: a splendid portrait of María Isabel de Braganza, second wife of the monarch. This beautiful pastel, known until now from a photograph preserved in the Institute of Spanish Cultural Heritage (Archivo Moreno 01401_B), was published by José Luis Díez in the catalog raisonné of the painter's works (PS-11). In this study, the specialist highlighted its great quality and its old provenance: the collection of don José Lázaro Galdiano. He also noted that, being the only known pastel portrait of María Isabel de Braganza, it must have been the example whose perfection and realism provoked the laudatory verses collected by Ossorio and published in 1818 in the Madrid advertisement journal: Upon seeing an original (in the Academy a hillbilly) of complete resemblance, he knelt with respect and went to give him a memorial. “Look,” a painter told him, “it’s a portrait of Isabel; but done with such skill that any sensible man can recognize its author by it.” With plain simplicity, the suitor replied: “Either his skill is beyond human, or the Queen is present, looking out of that window.” As reflected in these verses, this pastel of Queen Maria Isabel of Braganza stands out for the quality of its execution, López demonstrating his virtuosity in portraiture through his precise drawing and his ability to capture the different textures in flesh tones, fabrics, and objects. Its good state of conservation, even considering how delicate pastel paintings are, makes this work a special piece for collectors. Measurements: 60 x 41 cm.