Fernando Brambila facts for kids
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Fernando Brambila (born July 12, 1763 – died January 23, 1834) was an Italian painter and engraver. He spent most of his life in Spain, where he worked for the royal family. He is most famous for being one of the official artists on the Malaspina Expedition, a big journey to explore and map different parts of the world.
Life as an Artist
Fernando Brambila was born in Cassano d'Adda, Italy. From a young age, he wanted to be an artist. He studied painting in Milan at the Brera Academy. His early art style was inspired by a French painter named Claude Joseph Vernet.
In 1790, Brambila was working as a set designer for a famous opera house called La Scala. That's when he was asked to join the Malaspina Expedition. The Spanish government hired him and another painter, Juan Ravenet, to draw and record what they saw on this important journey.
In April 1791, Brambila started his trip to meet the expedition. He sailed on a ship called El Cortés to America. He joined the main expedition ships in Acapulco, Mexico, where he began his first paintings for the journey.
Brambila was assigned to one of the main ships, the Atrevida. He painted many wide views of the places they visited. His paintings showed important details like defense systems and monuments. He drew scenes from places like Guam, the Mariana Islands, the Philippines, Macao in China, and Australia. He also painted views from Vava'u in Tonga, Lima in Peru, and Buenos Aires and Montevideo in South America.
He and Ravenet returned to Spain in 1795. They continued to work for the Spanish government. Brambila created prints (called lithographs and engravings) based on his paintings for a book about the expedition. In 1799, King Carlos IV named him "Painter, Architect and Decorator for the Royal Court." This meant he was an official artist for the royal family.
After the Expedition
In May 1806, Brambila's contract with the government ended. He and Ravenet gave all their artworks to the Hydrographic Office, which was in charge of maps and sea charts.
Two years later, after a big battle called the Siege of Zaragoza, Brambila and another artist, Juan Gálvez, were asked to go there. They drew pictures to record the damage and what was left after the battle. Thirty-two of these drawings were later published in a book. Brambila then went back to Madrid, but he soon had to leave for Cádiz because Napoleon's army was taking over the city.
After the Peninsular War ended, Brambila returned to Madrid. He became the Court Painter again for the new King, Fernando VII. In 1814, he became a director at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, which is a famous art school.
In 1817, the Academy published his book about perspective. Perspective is an art technique that makes drawings look like they have depth and distance. Four years later, he was asked to create a series of paintings and prints showing royal places in Spain. This project kept him busy until 1832. These artworks were published in a collection called Vistas de los Sitios Reales y Madrid.
Fernando Brambila became very ill in 1829 and never fully recovered. He died at his home in Madrid in 1834.
Images for kids
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Royal Palace, Cuesta de la Vega
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La Granja Fountain, Aranjuez
See also
In Spanish: Fernando Brambila para niños
