Francisco Lameyer facts for kids
Francisco Lameyer y Berenguer (born September 13, 1825 – died June 3, 1877) was a Spanish painter and illustrator. He was known for his paintings of everyday life, called genre art. His early works were inspired by the artist Goya. Later, he painted scenes from Eastern cultures, a style known as Orientalism, which was influenced by Delacroix.
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About His Life
Francisco Lameyer was born in El Puerto de Santa María, Spain. When he was a child, his family moved to Madrid. As he grew up, he started working with an engraver named Vicente Castelló. He also contributed drawings to a magazine called El Siglo Pintoresco, which Castelló had started.
Becoming an Artist and Sailor
In 1841, Francisco joined the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, an art school. There, he studied with José de Madrazo and became friends with his son, Luis. Through Luis, he got to know the whole Madrazo family, who were also artists.
Two years later, Francisco needed to support his family. He also loved ships, perhaps because he grew up near a big port. So, he joined the Spanish Navy as an administrative official. This meant he couldn't focus on art full-time. However, he kept drawing in his free time. He completed 125 drawings for a book called Escenas Andaluzas, published in 1847.
Time in the Philippines and Return to Art
From 1854 to 1859, Francisco lived in the Philippines. He managed a store for the navy and later oversaw the entire post. The humid weather there was not good for his health. He became ill and developed a condition that caused pain in his joints.
In 1860, he returned to Spain to get treatment, but he didn't get much better. A year later, his doctor suggested he retire from the navy. So, Francisco left his job and focused completely on his art.
Travels and Famous Works
In 1863, Francisco traveled to Morocco with another artist friend, Marià Fortuny. They visited cities like Tangier and Tetuan. Morocco was still recovering from a recent war. This trip inspired Francisco's most famous painting, Assault of the Moors. This painting shows an attack on the Jewish quarter of Tetuan in the 1700s.
When he returned to Madrid, he set up his own art studio. He started creating paintings based on the sketches he had made during his travels. For some reason, he preferred not to show his paintings in art exhibitions.
In 1871, after his father passed away, Francisco began painting portraits. His first portrait was of his mother. From 1872 to 1873, he visited Egypt and Palestine. In Egypt, he bought several ancient artifacts. He later sold these to the National Archaeological Museum of Spain, which helped him with money.
Later Years
Francisco continued to live in Madrid, but he often traveled to Paris. This was partly because Spain was going through a difficult time with political problems. The constant stress made his health worse. His joint pain turned out to be a serious lung illness.
His mother died in early 1877. Francisco was very sad and tired from the funeral. He passed away five months later, in June 1877.
Other Selected Paintings
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Bullfight
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Confidences of the Bandit
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Interior with Moors
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Desert Scene
See also
In Spanish: Francisco Lameyer y Berenguer para niños
