Mariano Fortuny in Paris

"Fantasy on Faust" by Mariano Fortuny

"Setting out for Paris in the month of July, 1869, Mariano Fortuny was established, soon after his arrival, in the studio of Gerome, who had offered it to him during his absence. He could work to better advantage there than at M. Goupil's, who lived during the summer in the country, and had lent him his apartment situated not far off. He remained there till November.

At this period he saw Meissonier from time to time, for whose talent he had great admiration, and whom he one day asked to lend him one of his studies that he might copy it. Meissonier posed one day before his young brother in art for one of the figures in the 'Spanish Marriage,' and Fortuny made another portrait of him, the likeness of which is very striking.

He dined often with me [Charles Davillier, the author of this bio] in company with his wife, his brother-in-law and a few Spanish friends. On these occasions all etiquette was laid aside and the evening was spent in talk or in singing. Gustave Dore was sometimes of the party as also was Eduardo de Beaumont, who was to the last one of Fortuny's best friends.

Between the recitation of two rondeaus we discussed the shape of a sword or an armor of the fifteenth century. Fortuny and Beaumont changed pencils and sheets of paper were soon covered with sketches. One evening Fortuny began a portrait of another Spanish artist, Eduardo Zamacois, on a plate of copper, to teach him the process of making an etching, and finished it afterwards with a few sittings."

To be continued

Excerpted from "Life of Fortuny with His Works and Correspondence" by Charles Davillier, 1885.