Mariano Fortuny, Morocco

"Moroccan Man" by Mariano Fortuny

"War was declared between Spain and Morocco. The town council of Barcelona wrote to Mariano Fortuny, on 10th of January 1860, proposing he should go to Africa, and to paint there while accompanying the army - studies designed as souvenirs of this campaign.

He accepted, left by the first steamer on the 2nd of February, and with his future brother-in-law arrived some days afterwards at the encampment and set to work. A letter was sent afterwards by the town council of Barcelona to the governor of the province described this time and sent a new request:

'The Painter Fortuny has happily returned from Africa, where he collected, at the cost of great danger, and with a perseverance and zeal worthy of all praise, subjects of the highest interest, which he will doubtless use in the work the town council has entrusted to him. Your Excellency has seen his portfolios of sketches, souvenirs, and impressions, and will understand the great effect these drawing, so simply in appearance, will one day produce. So exactly do they show us the places where our heroic army has accomplished great deeds of arms - also the dress, character and manners of our adversaries in this African war.'"

To be continued...

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