Mariano Fortuny, 'The Bullfighter's Salute', probably 1869
About the work
Overview
Fortuny painted this picture of a victorious bullfighter saluting the crowd while he and his family were living in Granada in southern Spain from 1870 to 1872. Aside from the visual spectacle of bullfights, he was attracted to traditions that survived in contemporary Spain.
It is not possible to say if we are looking here at a specific bullring or one that Fortuny has imagined. However, the painting does show his lively brushwork, which anticipates Impressionism, and his skilful use of strong colours, which are tempered by delicate pinks and turquoise.
Fortuny has placed us close to the action within the bullring itself, not among the audience, and slightly below the matador, whose raised arm and jubilant face stand out clearly against the bright sky that fills the upper half of the picture. In contrast, the lower half is filled with the aftermath of the bloody fight that has just ended.
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- The Bullfighter's Salute
- Artist
- Mariano Fortuny
- Artist dates
- 1838 - 1874
- Date made
- probably 1869
- Medium and support
- oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 61 × 50.2 cm
- Inscription summary
- Signed
- Acquisition credit
- Bequeathed by Marcus van Raalte, 1916
- Inventory number
- NG3138
- Location
- Not on display
- Collection
- Main Collection
Provenance
Additional information
Text extracted from the ‘Provenance’ section of the catalogue entry in Neil MacLaren, revised by Allan Braham, ‘National Gallery Catalogues: The Spanish School’, London 1988; for further information, see the full catalogue entry.
Exhibition history
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2010Taurus: Del mito al ritualBilboko Arte Eder Museoa / Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao7 June 2010 - 5 September 2010
Bibliography
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1873Twentieth Annual Exhibition in London of Pictures, the Contributions of Artists of the Continental Schools: … at the French Gallery (exh. cat. French Gallery, 1873), London 1873
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1874E. Chesneau, 'Fortuny', Paris Journal, 1874
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1901A.G. Temple, Descriptive and Biographical Catalogue of the Exhibition of the Works of Spanish Painters (exh. cat. Guildhall Art Gallery, 30 April - 31 July 1901), London 1901
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1911H. Mireur, Dictionnaire des ventes d'art faites en France et à l'étranger pendant les XVIIIème et XIXème siècles, 7 vols, Paris 1911
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1958J.A. Gaya Nuño, La pintura española fuera de España: Historia y catálogo, Madrid 1958
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1970N. MacLaren and A. Braham, The Spanish School, 2nd edn, London 1970
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1988Maclaren, Neil, revised by Allan Braham, National Gallery Catalogues: The Spanish School, 2nd edn (revised), London 1988
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1989C. González López and M. Martí Ayxelà, Mariano Fortuny Marsal, Barcelona 1989
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2001
C. Baker and T. Henry, The National Gallery: Complete Illustrated Catalogue, London 2001
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2003M. Doñate et al., Fortuny (1838 - 1874) (exh. cat. Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, 17 October 2003 - 18 January 2004), Barcelona 2003
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2006D.E. McIntosh et al., Zamacois, Fortuny, Meissonier (exh. cat. Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao, 17 October 2006 - 28 J 2007), Bilbao 2006
About this record
If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.