How does The Spanish Wedding elucidate its History?
The Spanish Wedding was painted from 1868 to 1870. It was started in Rome and completed when the artist moved to Paris. Fortuny's working style is characterized by extensive research. Many test sketches and watercolors survive. These practice works show Fortuny's artistic process. Each sketch becomes more sophisticated, and refines his extensive research, prior to putting brush to canvass. Fortuny was known for using family and friends, as well as professionals, as models for his paintings. In The Spanish Wedding, his wife, Cecilia de Madrazo, and sister in law, Isabel de Madrazo, daughters of Federico de Madrazo the director of the Museo del Prado, modeled for the painting, as well as the artist, Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier.It is believed that The Spanish Wedding was inspired by a visit to a parish church in Madrid in preparation for his marriage to Cecilia de Madrazo. When the painting was displayed in 1870, it brought Fortuny international praise by both the general public and by the art community. Instead of being shown at the Paris Salon, the painting was exhibited at the gallery belonging to Adolph Goupil at No. 9 Rue Chaptral, Paris. Goupil was a major art dealer in the 19th century. The Spanish Wedding was quickly sold to Adèle Cassin, for 70,000 francs. This was one of the highest prices a painting had commanded to date, excepting Meissonier's 1814, la Campagne de France, which sold in 1866 for 85,000 francs. The Spanish Wedding catapulted Fortuny to international fame and his paintings were in high demand the rest of his career.
The painting remained in private hands until 1922. At that time, it was purchased by the Municipal Museum of Barcelona along with the Museum Board of Barcelona. Due to a misunderstanding, it became urgent for the museum to purchase the piece. It was believed the owner was moving to America and taking the painting with him. The Barcelona government decided that it would be best for the art work to come back to Spain and the funds for this endeavor were raised by subscription. It arrived at the museum in 1922 and is now cared for and displayed by Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, in Barcelona.
Cecilia de Madrazo Federico de Madrazo Paris Salon Barcelona Rome franc Ernest Meissonier watercolors Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier Adolph Goupil Museo del Prado Franc Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya parish church art dealer Madrid