Francisco Domingo Marqués Facts for Kids

Self-portrait (1884)

Francisco José Domingo y Marqués (born March 12, 1842 – died July 22, 1920) was a Spanish painter. He was known for his "Eclectic" style, which means he combined different art styles in his work.

A Young Artist's Journey
- Studying Art in Rome
- Returning to Spain
Life and Work in Paris
Later Years and Legacy
Selected paintings
See also

A Young Artist's Journey

Domingo in his later years. Photograph by Kaulak

Francisco Domingo Marqués was born in Valencia, Spain. He started studying art there at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Carlos. His first teacher was Rafael Montesinos. To practice, Francisco copied paintings by an old master named José de Ribera.

In 1864, he moved to Madrid to continue his art studies. He went to the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. There, he learned from a famous artist named Federico de Madrazo.

Studying Art in Rome

Three years later, his local government in Valencia gave him money. This 'pension' helped him study art in Rome, Italy. He arrived in Rome in 1868. While there, he worked in the studio of another artist, Eduardo Rosales.

Francisco sent his paintings from Rome to the National Exhibition of Fine Arts in Spain. He won several awards for his paintings. Many of these were in the Baroque style, which is known for its dramatic and detailed look.

Returning to Spain

After a while, Francisco got sick with malarial fever. He decided to return to Spain. For one year, he taught at the Academia de San Carlos. His painting of Santa Clara praying won First Prize at an exhibition in 1871.

That same year, his special funding for studying in Rome was stopped. He had not shown much interest in going back to Rome. So, he moved to Madrid. There, he found work decorating buildings. One important job was decorating the palace of Eduardo, Duque de Bailén.

Life and Work in Paris

Francisco got married in 1874. The next year, he moved to Paris, France. In Paris, he mostly painted detailed historical scenes. These are called genre paintings. He also painted portraits for wealthy people. Many of his clients had also been customers of the famous painter Marià Fortuny.

While in Paris, Francisco learned from other artists. He took some ideas from the style of Meissonier. He also started using brighter colors in his paintings. This was because he was influenced by the Impressionists, who used light and color in new ways.

His paintings were bought by a Paris art dealer named Etienne Haro. He also made connections with art dealers in the United States. Famous people like William Henry Vanderbilt and Augustin Daly bought his artwork.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1914, when World War I began, Francisco returned to Madrid. He moved in with his son, Roberto. Roberto (1883-1956) was also an artist. He was well-known for his paintings of bullfights.

Three years later, Francisco became a member of the Academia de San Fernando. In 1918, there was a special show of his work in his hometown of Valencia. This show honored his artistic achievements. He also received a special award called the "Civil Order of Alfonso X, the Wise". Francisco Domingo Marqués passed away in Madrid at the age of 78.