Mariano Fortuny, The Spanish Marriage

"The Spanish Marriage" by Mariano Fortuny

"In 1867 Mariano Fortuny married Cecilia de Madrazo, daughter of the director of the Royal Museum. And it was while often going to the sacristy of his parish church there that the idea of his masterpiece, 'Spanish Marriage' originated.

He there made a slight sketch of it in a grayish tint, just the embryo of the picture which afterwards became so celebrated. When he and his wife returned to Rome, work on the 'Spanish Marriage' took much of his time. After the French art dealer M. Goupil had visited his atelier and saw the painting in process, Fortuny wrote a friend:

'It would seem, he is pleased with 'The Spanish Marriage.' Goupil has proposed that I should go to Paris, where he offers to build me an atelier after my own taste. He talks much of the success of my painting, etc. He says that in Rome everybody imitates me, which is disgusting, and that, under these circumstances, I ought to leave here. I will be very glad to see MWH Stewart, and you might ask him when he comes, to put a small painting by Meissonier or Stevens (if he has one), in his portmanteau, for we all wish to see good work which might improve us all.'

In creating 'The Spanish Marriage' Fortuny borrowed his background from different churches: the railing belongs to the Cathedral of Granada and other details to a church in Rome. Two of the female figures are portraits of his wife and her sister. It was Meissonier who posed in a coat the color of green cabbage, with long skirts, belted with a wide belt, from which hangs a long cavalry sword.

The painting was shown at Goupil's in the spring of 1870 and created extraordinary interest in Paris. A talent so original, so new thrilled the critics. He was a success!"

To be continued

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