Joaquim Espalter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joaquim Espalter
Portrait of Joaquín Espalter (1880), by Joaquina Serrano, Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, Madrid
Born	Joaquim Espalter i Rull 30 September 1809 Sitges, Catalunya, Spain
Died	16 January 1880 Madrid, Spain
Nationality	Spanish
Education	Llotja School, Barcelona
Known for	Painter

Joaquim Espalter i Rull (born September 30, 1809 – died January 16, 1880) was a Spanish painter. He was from Catalonia, a region in Spain. He spent most of his life working in Madrid. Joaquim Espalter was best known for painting portraits and historical scenes.

Early Life and Studies

Joaquim Espalter was born in Sitges, a town in Spain. His family were merchants from Barcelona. They were living in Sitges for a short time because of the Peninsular War. This war happened in Spain between 1807 and 1814.

When the war ended, his family moved back to Barcelona. Joaquim went to a Piarist school there. After that, he spent a year in Montpellier, France. He was supposed to study business.

However, Joaquim decided he wanted to be a painter. From 1823 to 1828, he studied art in Barcelona. He attended the famous Escola de la Llotja art school.

Artistic Journey in Europe

After Barcelona, Joaquim traveled to France. He had a short stay at an art school in Marseille. In 1829, he moved to Paris. There, he studied with a famous painter named Antoine-Jean Gros.

In 1833, Joaquim moved to Rome, Italy. He joined a group of Catalan painters there. They were part of the Nazarene movement. This art movement focused on simple, religious art. Other painters in this group were Claudi Lorenzale and Pelegrí Clavé.

Joaquim greatly admired old Italian masters like Fra Angelico and Giotto. He visited Tuscany, Italy, many times to see their works. In 1839, he showed several of his paintings in a big art show in Florence.

Life and Work in Madrid

In 1842, Joaquim Espalter moved back to Spain. He settled in Madrid. He became a member of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. This is a very important art academy.

In 1847, he helped start an art magazine. It was called El Renacimiento, which means "The Renaissance." He started it with painter Federico de Madrazo and writer Eugenio de Ochoa. The magazine did not last very long.

Later, Queen Isabel II made him an honorary court painter. This meant he painted for the royal family. In 1860, he became a professor. He taught drawing at the "Escuela Superior de Pintura, Escultura y Grabado."

The Family of Jorge Flaquer (a banker)

Joaquim showed his art at big exhibitions. He was part of the Exposition Universelle (1855) in Paris. After 1870, he often showed his paintings at the National Exhibition of Fine Arts in Spain. Sometimes, he even helped judge the art. In 1872, he received a special award. It was called the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic.

Artistic Style and Major Works

Joaquim Espalter painted many different types of art. But he became most famous for his portraits. He was very popular with wealthy people in Madrid. They liked his simple and direct painting style.

Besides portraits, he also created decorations. He painted for the Teatro Español in 1848. He also painted large murals for the Universidad Central from 1853 to 1858. He painted for the Palacio de las Cortes, which is where the Spanish Parliament meets.

In Pamplona, he helped decorate the "Salón del Trono." This is a special room in the Palacio de la Diputación [es]. He painted a mural there. It showed Íñigo Arista becoming the first King of Navarre.

Joaquim Espalter died in Madrid in 1880. He was 70 years old.

See also

In Spanish: Joaquín Espalter y Rull para niños