Eugenio Lucas Villaamil, known by the nickname 'El joven', was born in Madrid on January 14, 1858 and died in the same city on January 23, 1918 at the age of 60.
Son and grandson of painters, both by his mother and his father Eugenio Lucas Velázquez, who was very successful in his time and even more famous than Eugenio Lucas Villaamil himself. He married Eugenia Esteban, with whom he had a daughter named Francisca Teresa, who continued with the family custom and dedicated himself to the world of art and painting.
Villaamil began his training at an early age under the tutelage of his father and later entered the Madrid School of Painting, with which he attended the National Fine Art Exhibitions. At this time he made some of his most outstanding works, such as: 'Italianas' and 'Beggars' from 1876 and in 1881 a watercolor called 'After the party'.
Some of his works are attributed to Goya
His work was always influenced by great Spanish painters such as: Velázquez, Murillo and especially Goya. To whom he almost imitates in many of his works with such perfection that many people confuse the authorship of some of his paintings and attribute them to Goya.
Despite his gifts in different painting styles, the recognition of the general public reached an advanced age thanks to the support of the businessman José Lázaro Galdiano. Lázaro became a great admirer of the painter, buying many of his works and commissioning new works also as a restorer and copyist (Labor that consists of reproducing paintings by other authors).
Largely, thanks to the relationship between the painter and the businessman, Lucas Villaamil even obtained the appointment of knight of the Order of Carlos III. Distinction that the king of Spain directly granted only to those people who had stood out for their actions for the benefit of the country.
You can see the Lucas Villaamil's work on our website and also lots of other outstanding painters of the 19th century painting. You contact us for any clarification you need.
