Blas González García-Valladolid (XIX) - Retrato burgués

Splendid oil on canvas created by Blas González García-Valladolid Moral in 1878, a widely recognized painter in the city of Valladolid, mainly for his portraits. The artist's signature is present in the lower left area.

Depicts a half-length male portrait, with the subject seated on a chair, slightly in profile. It features a young man from a Palentine family of renowned politicians, Díez-Quijada. He appears elegantly dressed, wearing the typical attire of the period: a black jacket over a white shirt and a black bow tie. His facial expression is serene, slightly stiff, but with exquisite detail in his facial features. The meticulous rendering of his hands also stands out. The work is of extraordinary quality. The broad red curtain in the background creates a sense of space and adds depth to the piece. It is framed by a simple gold frame from the period, with signs of age appropriate to its antiquity.

Sometimes, the 19th century has been called 'The Century of Portraits.' From its very inception, portraiture was associated with figures endowed with economic, social, or political power who wished to display and perpetuate their status. However, its golden age occurred during the 19th century, especially in the last third, as it became a coveted form of distinction among those who could afford it. It expanded to all kinds of techniques: painting, sculpture, medallion, miniature, watercolor, drawing, etching, lithography, photography… Moreover, the influence of photography and the approach of the arts toward realism led to the depiction of figures with increasing naturalism.

Brief biography of Blas González García from Valladolid (1839 - 1919).

Blas González García-Valladolid Moral was born in Valladolid. His passion for painting was innate, as he was the son of the local painter and academic Pedro González Moral, from whom he learned the craft of painting alongside his brother Isidro. He also had a brother, Casimiro González García-Valladolid, a renowned Valladolid historian, whose works are fundamental for the study of his history and art. He received his training in painting at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of La Purísima Concepción in Valladolid with Agapito López San Román and José Martí y Monsó.

He cultivated other arts besides painting, such as sculpture and engraving, and even restoration and decoration. He became the most sought-after portraitist in Valladolid. He painted portraits of monarchs, such as Isabel II or Alfonso XIII; of archbishops; of official institutions and of the Valladolid bourgeoisie in general, highlighting the portraits of the presidents of the RABAPC. All of them have a somewhat conventional character, a meticulous technique, a precise tonality, and are based on a photograph.

Although portraiture was his most developed genre, he also produced historicist, genre, and religious paintings. Professor and Academic of the RABAPC, his work is very extensive and can be found in many local institutions and religious establishments in the city: the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, the Episcopal Palace, the Cathedral, and many of the cloisters of the female religious orders of Valladolid.



Technique on support: oil on canvas.
Male Portrait
Author: Blas González García-Valladolid Moral
Year: 1878
Country: Valladolid, Castilla y León, Spain
Provenance: Private collection
Good condition relative to its age and usage.
Total dimensions: 117.5 x 97 x 6 cm.
Frameless dimensions: 101 x 809 cm.


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The frame that protects the artwork is offered as a gift but has value in itself. It is provided at no additional cost so that when your artwork arrives at your home or destination, it can be displayed immediately. Any damage to the frame itself, which does not affect the integrity of the artwork, cannot be accepted as a valid reason to open a claim or request a cancellation.

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