Federico de Madrazo

Who was Federico de Madrazo?

Federico de Madrazo y Kuntz was a Spanish painter.

Born in Rome, he was the son of the painter Madrazo y Agudo, and received his first instruction from his father. While still attending the classes at the Royal Academy of San Fernando, he painted his first picture, The Resurrection of Christ, which was purchased by Queen Christina. Not long afterwards he painted Achilles in his Tent, and subsequently presented to the Academy The Continence of Scipio, which secured him admission as a member "for merit".

While decorating the palace of Vista Alegre he took up portraiture. In 1852 he went to Paris, where he studied under Franz Winterhalter, and painted portraits of Baron Taylor and Ingres. In 1837 he was commissioned to produce a picture for the gallery at Versailles, and painted "Godfrey de Bouillon proclaimed King of Jerusalem". The artist then went to Rome, where he worked at various subjects, sacred and profane. Then he painted Maria Christina in the Dress of a Nun by the Bedside of Ferdinand III, Queen Isabella, The Duchess of Medina-Coeli, and The Countess de Vilches, besides a number of portraits of the Spanish aristocracy, some of which were sent to the exhibition of 1855.