Mariano Benlliure facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mariano Benlliure
Portrait of Mariano Benlliure in his youth by his friend, Filipino painter Juan Luna
Born	Mariano Benlliure y Gil (1862-09-08)8 September 1862 Valencia, Spain
Died	9 November 1947(1947-11-09) (aged 85) Madrid, Spain
Known for	Sculpting, Painting
Movement	Heroic realism, Neoclassicism

Mariano Benlliure y Gil (born September 8, 1862 – died November 9, 1947) was a famous Spanish sculptor. He was also a medallist, meaning he designed coins and medals. Mariano created many large public statues and religious artworks across Spain. His art style was known as 'heroic realism,' which meant his sculptures looked very real and often showed strong, important figures.

Mariano Benlliure: A Sculptor's Journey

Mariano Benlliure was born in Valencia, Spain. From a young age, he showed a talent for art. His first sculptures were about bullfighting. He made them from wax and then cast them in bronze.

When he was just thirteen, Mariano showed a small wax model of a picador (a bullfighter on horseback) at a big art show in 1876. He first thought he would become a painter. His teacher, Francisco Domingo Marqués, even paid for him to go to Paris to study painting.

However, a trip to Rome in 1879 changed his mind. There, he saw the amazing sculptures by Michelangelo. This experience convinced Mariano that he wanted to be a sculptor instead.

In 1887, he moved to Madrid for good. That same year, he won a top prize at an art exhibition for his sculpture of the painter Ribera.

His Unique Art Style

Mariano Benlliure's sculptures are known for being very detailed and lifelike. They also had a spontaneous, almost 'impressionistic' feel. This means they captured a moment, like a snapshot in time.

He made many portrait busts (sculptures of people's heads and shoulders) and large public monuments. These monuments honored important people and events.

Some of his famous public works include:

• The tomb of Práxedes Mateo Sagasta in Madrid. Sagasta was an important Spanish politician.
• A monument to José de San Martín in Lima, Peru. San Martín was a hero who helped South American countries become independent.
• The monument to Álvaro de Bazán in Madrid. Bazán was a famous Spanish admiral.
• The monument to Isabella the Catholic in Granada. Queen Isabella was a very important queen in Spanish history.
• The monument to General Cassola in Madrid.
• The monument to Maria Christina of Bourbon in Madrid. She was a queen of Spain.
• The large bronze statue of Alfonso XII on horseback in Madrid's El Retiro. This is a central part of a big memorial.
• The monument to Agustina de Aragón in Zaragoza. She was a heroine during a siege.
• The monument to Castelar in Madrid. Castelar was a Spanish president.
• The monument to Arsenio Martínez Campos in El Retiro. He was a Spanish general.
• The monument to Miguel Primo de Rivera in Jerez de la Frontera. He was a Spanish dictator.
• The monument to Antonio Maura in Palma de Mallorca. Maura was a Spanish prime minister.
• The monument to Cuba in El Retiro, Madrid. This monument was made with help from other sculptors.
• The monument to Arthur Walsh Fergusson in the Philippines.

Mariano Benlliure also designed the first Peseta coins in 1947. These coins showed the head of Francisco Franco. Later, in the 1950s, his image was featured on the Spanish 500 peseta banknote. The back of the banknote showed his sculpture "Sepulcro De Gayarre en el Roncal".

Mariano came from an artistic family. His brothers, José and Juan Antonio, were also well-known painters.

Famous Sculptures by Benlliure

See also

In Spanish: Mariano Benlliure para niños