Portrait of José Nicolás de Azara facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Portrait of José Nicolás de Azara |
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| Artist | Anton Raphael Mengs |
| Year | 1774 |
| Medium | Oil on poplar panel |
| Dimensions | 77 cm × 61.5 cm (30 in × 24.2 in) |
| Location | Museo del Prado, Madrid |
The Portrait of José Nicolás de Azara is a famous painting made by Anton Raphael Mengs. He painted it between 1773 and 1774. This artwork is an oil painting on a special type of wood called a poplar panel.
The painting shows José Nicolás de Azara, who was a Spanish diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in other countries. Azara was also a good friend of the artist, Mengs. The painting was finished in Florence, Italy, in January 1774. Today, the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain, owns this important artwork. They bought it in 2012 from Azara's family.
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About José Nicolás de Azara
José Nicolás de Azara was an important person in Spanish history. He was born in 1730 and passed away in 1804. Azara worked as a diplomat for Spain in Rome, Italy. He was known for being very smart and interested in art and ancient history.
Azara became good friends with many artists and thinkers of his time. This included Anton Raphael Mengs, the painter of this portrait. Their friendship helped Mengs get important art jobs in Spain.
The Artist: Anton Raphael Mengs
Anton Raphael Mengs was a German painter. He lived from 1728 to 1779. Mengs was one of the most important artists of his time. He was known for his Neoclassical style. This style used ideas from ancient Greek and Roman art.
Mengs painted many portraits of important people. He also created large paintings for churches and palaces. He worked for kings and queens in places like Spain and Italy. His art was very popular across Europe.
History of the Painting
After Mengs finished the portrait, José Nicolás de Azara wanted copies of it. He asked another artist, Domenico Cunego, to make an engraving in 1781. An engraving is a type of print made from a drawing. Cunego used a drawing by Francisco Javier Ramos, who had studied with Mengs.
Another artist, Jacopo Bossi, also made an engraving of the portrait in 1784. This copy was used in an Italian book. The book was a translation of History of the Art of Antiquity by Johann Joachim Winckelmann. This book was dedicated to Azara himself.
The painting stayed with Azara's family for a long time after he died. From 1928 to 1976, the family loaned the painting to the Museum of Fine Arts of Zaragoza. This allowed many people to see it. In 2012, the famous Museo del Prado bought the painting. Now, it is a key part of their collection.
See also
In Spanish: José Nicolás de Azara (Mengs) para niños
