José Villegas Cordero: Outstanding Author in 19th Century Painting

Article dedicated to the life and work of José Villegas Cordero, leading author in 19th century painting. We will talk about its beginnings, the most outstanding jobs and the best known portraits of the painter born in Seville.

José Villegas Cordero was born on August 26, 1844, and from an early age he showed great skills for painting (he sold his first work at age 16: Small philosophy), so he entered José María Romero's workshop first and later completed his studies at the School of Fine Arts in Seville.

With 23 years in 1867 travels to Madrid, where a friendship with Eduardo Rosales and Fortuny begins and visit the Prado museum quite frequently to see Velázquez's work. Which inspires you to add simplicity and color to your technique.

Only a year later he embarks on a trip to Rome, where he carries out works of a traditional character They have great acceptance from the public. As they are: Bullfighters in the chapel of the square (1871) and The gang's rest (1873). At this time, the author is several years in Italy, both in Rome and in Venice, and becomes one of the most sought-after painters.

In the decades of In the 80s and 90s, José Villegas receives numerous commissions, some of them very well paid. One of the works to highlight is the painting The death of the bullfighter, sold for 100.000 pesetas of the time.

José Villegas Cordero, held positions of great responsibility

Already in his maturity, José Villegas performed works of a great size. Being first Director of the Spanish Academy of Fine Arts in Rome between 1898 and 1901, and from that same year he was appointed Director of Museo del Prado.

He was in charge of the Museum for 17 years and carried out a profound renovation in all aspects, both in terms of operation and improvement of facilities. At this time a series of twelve paintings called Decalogue (1914), which deals with the ten commandments plus a prologue and an epilogue; This work was declared of Cultural Interest by the Ministry of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía in 1992.

How could you see the painting of Jose Villegas Cordero It is a very diversified theme and can be found Type works: historical, traditional and even anecdotal.

Finally, he died in Madrid on November 9, 1921. He is buried in the cemetery of San Fernando de Sevilla and on his grave there is a sculpture inspired by his work "The triumph of the dogaresa".