Domingo Ortega facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Domingo Ortega
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Domingo Ortega (1935)
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Domingo López Ortega
February 25, 1906 |
| Died | May 8, 1988 (aged 82) |
| Nationality | Spanish |
Domingo Ortega (born February 25, 1906 – died May 8, 1988) was a famous Spanish matador. A matador is a bullfighter who faces bulls in a bullring. His full name was Domingo López Ortega. He was born in a town called Borox in Toledo, Spain. Domingo grew up on a farm, helping his family with farm work. When there wasn't farm work, he would travel to other towns to sell garlic.
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Becoming a Matador
In the summer of 1928, Domingo Ortega went to a novillada. This is a type of bullfight where younger bulls are used. During the event, the only bullfighter present was injured by a bull. Seeing a chance, Ortega bravely jumped into the ring. He asked for the bullfighter's tools. Then, he performed several passes and successfully killed the bull. This unexpected event marked the beginning of his new career as a bullfighter.
Rising to Fame
By 1931, Domingo Ortega had only participated in six novilladas. However, he then received the alternativa. This is a special ceremony that marks a bullfighter's graduation. It means they move from being a novillero (a bullfighter of young bulls) to a full matador de toros. Gitanillo de Triana gave him his alternativa in Barcelona. Later that same year, Nicanor Villalta confirmed his alternativa in Madrid. After this, Ortega took part in many bullfights. He officially retired from bullfighting in 1950. He did briefly return for a short time in 1953.
Ortega's Bullfighting Philosophy
Domingo Ortega often spoke about the main rules of bullfighting. These rules are parar (to stop), templar (to moderate), and mandar (to command). He believed a fourth rule should be added: "to load." This meant that the bullfighter should lean their weight onto their front foot. This movement brings them closer to the bull. He also said that if a bullfighter was caught by the bull, it was always the bullfighter's mistake. He famously stated, "In bullfighting either the bullfighter or the bull is in command."
Legacy
Most people today speak highly of Domingo Ortega's skills. However, the famous writer Ernest Hemingway had a different opinion. In his book Death in the Afternoon, Hemingway said Ortega was "skillfully built up... with an elaborate press campaign." He also wrote that Ortega "was lousy."
Different Views
Another writer, Laura Riding, strongly disagreed with Hemingway. In her essay 'The Bull-Fight', she called Ortega "the critical modernist among contemporary bull-fighters." She also said, "There are few books that have given me such a sense of learned simplicity as Ortega's work." This shows that people had very different ideas about Domingo Ortega's style and talent.
See also
In Spanish: Domingo Ortega para niños
