Carlos Rico (?) - Portrait of the Spanish gangster Jose-Maria, known as El Tempranillo (1800/1805 - 1833)

Carlos Rico (?)
19-20 century, Spanish
Portrait of the Spanish gangster Jose-Maria, known as El Tempranillo (1800/1805 - 1833)
Painting, oil on canvas
Signed upper right: "Carlos Rico" (?)
Painting: 65 x 92 cm
Beautiful modern frame in solid wood: 89.5 x 116 cm (warning large size)
Very good condition, small discreet restorations (see on the back)
Old annotation on the back of the frame: "Jose Maria / King of Sierramorena / Spanish brigand "
Circa 1860-70

In the middle of the 19th century, in France, a Hispanic movement crossed the arts and fascinated. We thus discover Velazquez, Goya or Zurbaran. Characters from Spanish history inspire many artists, writers and composers (like Bizet with Carmen). José María Hinojosa Cobacho, known as El Tempranillo or also known as King of Sierra Morena, was a character with a formidable romantic character. It inspired Eugène Cormon to write an opera in 1866.

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