VICENTE LÓPEZ PORTAÑA

(1772 / 1850)

VICENTE LOPEZ PORTAÑA Valencia (1772) / Madrid (1850) "Portrait of Juan Dionisio Caballero y Crooke", c. 1824

Oil on canvas. On the reverse, on the frame, old label of the O'Lawlor collection. Label of the Board for the Seizure, Protection and Salvage of Artistic Treasures (no. 10333 / Lema / collection no. 19). Registered in the Photo Library of the Institute of Cultural Heritage of Spain (no. 05818_B_P - Marques de Lema). Old label detached from the canvas: "D. Juan Dioni[sio] [Caballero]oy Crooke, / by D. [V]icente [Lo]pez, / property of Dª Elena O'Lawlor y / Caballero, Beneficencia 2, Madrid / Almagro 25" Provenance: Bermudez de Castro O'Lawlor Collection, Marquisate of Lema. Bibliography: MORALES Y MARIN, Jose Luis, Vicente Lopez, Zaragoza, 1980, p. 81, no. 105; DIEZ, Jose Luis, Vicente Lopez (1772-1850). Catalogue Raisonne, Madrid, 1999, pp. 124-682, cat. no. P-504. Exhibitions: Madrid, Cat. Expo. 1913, p. 26, no. 101; Madrid, Cat. Expo. 1951, p. 25, no. 2. Juan Dionisio Caballero y Crooke was born on October 19, 1788, in the city of Malaga, where he served as a councilman. According to Jose Luis Diez, Vicente Lopez painted his portrait around 1824-1826, when he was between 36 and 38 years old. He wears a blue frock coat with gold buttons, over which he displays the Knight's Cross and the badge of Commander of the Order of Charles III, of which he was appointed a supernumerary member in 1824. He wears a brown waistcoat, a blue-violet tie, and a gold pin with his initial. The sitter's distinguished bearing is emphasized by the elegance conferred by the brilliant dark green background. This portrait was painted by Vicente Lopez, as were a series of paintings commissioned by General O'Lawlor and O'Brennan, with whom the painter maintained a close relationship. In addition to this canvas, there is documentary evidence that he produced other works for the same patron, such as a Mater Dolorosa (See Diez 1999, P-132), his own portrait (P-662), and portraits of some members of his family, such as Dionisia O'Lawlor y Caballero, Duchess of Vistahermosa (P-661). Dimensions: 69 x 57 cm.