Mariano Fortuny, Beginnings

"Mariano Fortuny" by Federico Madrazo

"Spanish artist Mariano Fortuny loved his grandfather. He remembered traveling with the old man to nearby towns in the region of Catalonia to help him earn some money by showing off a cabinet filled with moving wax figures. 

Mariano had shown such an interest and talent for drawing as he grew that his grandfather wanted to see him enter the Academia de Bellas Artes in Barcelona. The journey to present his work for admission to the school was a long and fatiguing one, because for economy's sake, they walked the entire distance, more than sixty miles.

They showed three small works, which impressed the school so much that Mariano was allowed to enter the academy. Several kind patrons paid his board and tuition. One instructor announced to the others that, 'This young man will astonish us all,' which caused such great jealousy that he was sadly forced to resign. Even with his board and tuition paid Mariano had to add to his income by coloring photographs, by making designs for architects and jewelers and occasionally painting portraits.

Early on Sunday mornings, Mariano Fortuny drew from nature in the environs of the town. His companion on these occasions was Jose Tapiro. One morning he called for him as early as five o'clock and found him asleep with the door open. 'Don't let us shut it,' said Fortuny to him, 'let us see if the thieves know where our money is; as for us we know nothing about it!' 

"Portrait of a Young Woman" by Mariano Fortuny

Another day, when they and other friends went on a boating excursion and all, with the exception of Tapiro, had jumped overboard, Fortuny, who had become almost exhausted, would certainly have drowned, had not his friend brought the boat to his rescue, and caught him by the hair.

Spared to continue his work, he filled sketchbooks with characters and scenes of everyday life. He called this 'fishing for types.' He also created paintings that, while accepted in the Academie Salon, did not particularly indicate the talent which later compelled admiration. And then came a competition that changed his life."

To be continued

(Excerpted largely from the book "Life of Fortuny with His Works and Correspondence" by Charles Davillier, 1885.)