José Benlliure y Gil facts for kids

Quick facts for kids José Benlliure
Self-portrait, 1917
Born	José Benlliure y Gil 1858 Valencia
Died	1937 Valencia
Resting place	Valencia
Nationality	Spanish
Education	Domingo

José Benlliure y Gil (born September 30, 1858, in Valencia – died April 5, 1937, in Valencia) was a famous Spanish painter. He was known for his large historical paintings and his work in Italy.

Life of a Spanish Painter

José Benlliure y Gil was born in Cabanyal, a part of Valencia, Spain. He learned painting from Francisco Domingo Marqués. José was very talented from the start. Because of this, he was sent to study at the Spanish school in Rome.

From 1903 to 1913, he was the director of the Spanish Academy of Fine Arts. This was a very important job.

José was one of a special group of artists. The Spanish government gave them money to live and work in Italy. He painted many artworks for public buildings, ordered by the government. He became famous for his big historical paintings. One very famous one is "Vision in the Coliseum." In Rome, he worked as both a painter and a sculptor. He became a leader among the Spanish artists living there.

He married Maria Ortiz in 1880 after moving to Rome. In Italy, he painted many small, everyday scenes. He started his painting "View of the Coliseum" in Assisi. This painting is now in the Museum of Fine Arts in Valencia. He won a top prize at a national art show in 1887 for this painting. His brother, Mariano Benlliure, also won an award at the same show for his sculpture.

José Benlliure's paintings were very successful in other European cities. These included Paris, Munich, Stuttgart, and Berlin. In 1903, he became the head of the Spanish Academy in Rome. He took over from his brother Mariano. He stayed in this important role for ten years.

José was also the father of another painter, Josep Benlliure i Ortiz. His son was born in Rome in 1884 and was known as Peppino. In late 1919, José held an art show in Madrid with 45 paintings. It was a way to honor Rome. When he returned to Valencia, he became the honorary president of the Circle of Fine Arts. He also became the director of the Museu de Belles Arts de Valencia. He stayed in this job until 1924. He received important awards from Italy and France for his art.

In 1957, José's daughter, Maria Benlliure Ortiz, gave their family home to the City of Valencia. This was the house where her father and his family lived and worked. She also donated many paintings by her father and son. There were also family photos and paintings by friends like Joaquin Sorolla. The museum also lets visitors see the house's garden. It includes a studio José Benlliure y Gil made for his son, Joseph Benlliure y Ortiz. Sadly, his son died in 1916. José's wife, Maria Ortiz Fullana, passed away in 1918. Today, the city of Valencia runs the house as a public museum called the House Museum Benlliure.

José Benlliure y Gil had two brothers who were also artists. Juan Antonio was a painter. Mariano was a sculptor.

Gallery

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  Life of Francis of Assisi by Josep Benlliure Gil

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  The painter's garden

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  Maria Benlliure Ortiz, 1905

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  The Carnival in Rome 1881

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  Cardinal

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  Uncle Andreu de Rocafort, José Benlliure, Museum of Fine Arts in Valencia

See also

In Spanish: José Benlliure para niños