JOSÉ BENLLIURE GIL (Valencia, 1855 - 1937). "The beggars, Basilica of Assisi". Oil on panel.

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19th & 20th Century paintings and Decorative ...

By Setdart Auction House

Nov 10, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-11-10 08:00:00 2021-11-10 08:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : 19th & 20th Century paintings and Decorative Arts https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/setdart-auction-house/19th-20th-century-paintings-and-decorative-arts-7800
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• Lot Description
  JOSÉ BENLLIURE GIL (Valencia, 1855 - 1937). "The beggars, Basilica of Assisi". Oil on panel. Signed in the lower right corner. Measurements: 37 x 53 cm; 61 x 77 cm (frame). José Benlliure cultivated the costumbrista theme and the portrait. In the present case, we are in front of a scene in the interior of the Basilica of San Francisco de Asís. In it, some beggars appear seated on the bench of the basilica under the serious gaze of the parish priest, while praying the rosary. The scene plays with the light and the backgrounds, creating several spaces. The main part of the piece is the one that frames the beggars next to the parish priest, illuminated by a candle; while the secondary scene is played by two altar boys, at the back of the parish priest, who talk to each other. The background of this second scene is almost black. It is not arbitrary that the scene is represented in the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, since he went from being the son of a rich merchant of the city in his youth, to live under the strictest poverty and observance of the Gospels. His religious life was austere and simple, so he encouraged his followers to do the same. In short, we find a piece with exceptional detail, where each face, each architecture and each detail are worked to the millimeter. José Benlliure began his artistic studies with Francisco Domingo in Valencia, to later continue his training in Madrid, where he settled in 1869. From an early age he enjoyed the patronage of the King of Savoy and in 1879 he moved to Rome, where he was discovered by the important art dealer Martin Colnaghi, who financed his studies in the city. In 1897 he made several trips to Tangier, Algeria and Morocco where he approached through a realistic, luminous and loose painting to the daily world of the places visited. From 1900 onwards his work depicts popular themes. He took part in the National Exhibitions of Fine Arts, obtaining third medals in the editions of 1876 and 1878 and first in 1887. He belonged to the Academies of San Fernando (Madrid), San Lucas (Rome), San Carlos (Valencia), Brera (Milan) and Munich. Between 1904 and 1912 he directed the Spanish Academy in Rome. The most important part of his production is preserved in Valencia, in his House Museum and in the Museum of Fine Arts San Pío V. He is also represented in the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Palace of Charles V in Granada, among others.
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