Luis de Madrazo Facts for Kids

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal family name is Madrazo and the second or maternal family name is Kuntz.

Quick facts for kids Luis de Madrazo
Madrazo, c.1855-1860
Born	Luis de Madrazo y Kuntz 27 February 1825 Madrid, Spain
Died	9 February 1897 Madrid, Spain
Education	Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando; Accademia di San Luca, Rome; French Academy, Rome
Awards	Commander in the Order of Isabel the Catholic

Luis de Madrazo y Kuntz (born February 27, 1825 – died February 9, 1897) was a Spanish painter. He was famous for painting portraits and religious pictures. Luis came from a very artistic family. His father, José, was a painter. His brothers Federico (a painter), Pedro (an art critic), and Juan (an architect) were also involved in art. Even his grandfather, Tadeusz Kuntze, was a painter!

About Luis de Madrazo
Selected paintings
See also

About Luis de Madrazo

Luis de Madrazo was born in Madrid, Spain. He grew up in a very famous family of artists. His father was José de Madrazo. His brothers were Federico de Madrazo and Pedro de Madrazo.

His nephews, Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta and Ricardo de Madrazo, also became well-known painters. The Madrazo family was so important that they are called one of the most significant painting families in Spain. They truly shaped Spanish painting in the 1800s.

Early Art Training

Luis and his brothers learned to paint in their father's art studio. Later, Luis joined the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. This was a famous art school in Madrid.

In 1845, he started working as an illustrator. He drew pictures for a magazine called Seminario Pintoresco Español. A few years later, he won a special scholarship. This allowed him to finish his art studies in Rome, Italy. He wanted to make his painting style even better.

Studying in Rome

In Rome, Luis first went to the Accademia di San Luca. Then, he joined the French Academy in Rome at the Villa Medici. While he was there, he met another artist named Friedrich Overbeck. Luis was influenced by a group of artists called the Nazarene movement. These artists focused on religious themes and a simple, pure style.

Travels and Return to Madrid

After finishing his studies in Rome, Luis traveled around Europe. He lived for a short time in Paris, Munich, Venice, and Berlin. In the early 1890s, he stayed in Pompeii for a while. He was there with two other Spanish painters.

Later, he went back to Madrid. His father and older brothers were very famous. This helped Luis get into the art groups in Madrid. Some people thought his success was only because of his family's fame.

Later Life and Teaching

In the last part of his life, Luis mostly taught art. He also painted portraits of important people, like nobles. He received a special award called Commander in the Order of Isabel the Catholic. This was a high honor.

Eventually, he became the Director of the "Escuela Superior de Pintura, Escultura y Grabado de Madrid." This was a top art school. Luis de Madrazo died in his hometown of Madrid. After he passed away, Dióscoro Puebla took over his role as director.