Raimundo de Madrazo, 'Portrait of a Lady', 1885-95
On loan: Long Loan to The Hugh Lane (2019 - 2031), Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane, Dublin, Ireland About the work
Overview
The sitter for this portrait by the Spanish artist Raimundo de Madrazo has not yet been identified, but her clothes can be dated to the late 1880s or early 1890s. As the clothing is unfinished, this may be a study for a larger portrait.
Born in Rome in 1841 into a family of artists of noble descent, Madrazo initially studied in Madrid. In 1860 he visited Paris, where he settled permanently from 1862. He continued his training there, which included studying with Léon Cogniet. Madrazo was also influenced by the Belgian painter Alfred Stevens, who was by then an extremely successful portraitist, particularly of elegantly dressed society women.
Despite its possible unfinished state this portrait shows Madrazo’s polished technique, which established him as a much sought-after portrait painter both in France and America, where his clients included the Vanderbilt family. His brother-in-law was another important Spanish artist, Mariano Fortuny.
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- Portrait of a Lady
- Artist
- Raimundo de Madrazo
- Artist dates
- 1841 - 1920
- Date made
- 1885-95
- Medium and support
- oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 49.5 × 40 cm
- Inscription summary
- Signed
- Acquisition credit
- Sir Hugh Lane Bequest, 1917, The National Gallery, London. In partnership with Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin.
- Inventory number
- NG3254
- Location
- On loan: Long Loan to The Hugh Lane (2019 - 2031), Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane, Dublin, Ireland
- Collection
- Main Collection
Provenance
Additional information
Text extracted from the ‘Provenance’ section of the catalogue entry in Martin Davies, with additions and some revisions by Cecil Gould, ‘National Gallery Catalogues: French School: Early 19th Century, Impressionists, Post-Impressionists, etc.’, London 1970; for further information, see the full catalogue entry.
Exhibition history
-
2006Long Loan to The Hugh Lane (2006 - 2019)Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane31 December 2006 - 18 April 2021
-
2021Long Loan to The Hugh Lane (2019 - 2031)Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane24 February 2021 - 23 February 2031
Bibliography
-
1970Davies, Martin, and Cecil Gould, National Gallery Catalogues: French School: Early 19th Century, Impressionists, Post-Impressionists etc., London 1970
-
2001
C. Baker and T. Henry, The National Gallery: Complete Illustrated Catalogue, London 2001
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.