Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 12

José Villegas
"Before the Walls of Jerusalem", 19th Century Oil on Canvas by José Villegas

Circa 1880

About the Item

JOSÉ VILLEGAS CORDERO Spanish, 1844 - 1921 BEFORE THE WALLS OF JERUSALEM signed "Villegas" (lower left) oil on canvas 12-1/4 x 17-1/4 inches (31.1 x 43.7 cm.) PROVENANCE Private Collector, Seville, Spain José Villegas Cordero (Seville, August 26, 1844-Madrid, November 9, 1921) was a Spanish painter. He directed the Prado Museum between 1901 and 1918. He was the brother of the painter Ricardo Villegas Cordero. He began his apprenticeship very young with José María Romero, with whom he remained for two years until entering the School of Fine Arts in Seville, where he was under the tutelage of Eduardo Cano. In 1860, when he was only 16 years old, he sold his work Little Philosophy for 2,000 reais at the Seville Exhibition. In 1867 he traveled to Madrid, where he entered Federico Madrazo's studio. There he established friendship with painters Eduardo Rosales and Fortuny. He went regularly to the Prado where he copied Velázquez, from whom he acquired spontaneity and the use of color for his technique. Finally, and out of admiration for Fortuny's orientalist painting, he returned to Seville and organized an excursion to Morocco. At the end of 1868 he decided to travel to Rome accompanied by the painters Rafael Peralta and Luis Jiménez Aranda, where he ended up entering Rosales' workshop. His first works in the Eternal City have a costumbrista tint, which is also a highly demanded theme by the public. Proof of this are his works Improvised Toilet, Bullfighters in the Plaza Chapel (1871) and The Rest of the Gang (1873), among others. Orientalist themes were also demanded of him, which Villegas was able to masterfully carry out thanks to the sketches he had treasured in Morocco, as well as certain works of "genre painting". In the mid-1970s he returned to Seville and took the opportunity to visit Morocco again. Again in Rome, he picked up the witness from Fortuny and thus became the best-regarded and most sought-after painter in the city. In these times, the paintings of costumbrista and also orientalist themes exploited. Some of his works could be seen in Seville thanks to regional exhibitions and in Madrid thanks to the Bosch and Hernández galleries. In 1878, the Senate commissioned him a canvas with a historical theme that should be about Hernán Cortés's interview with Moctezuma. In 1882 the Senate withdrew the commission, but Villegas had already been interested in historical painting and embarked on works such as La paz de Cambray and Don Juan de Austria's last visit to Felipe II, all of them of excellent workmanship. From 1877 on, he frequently resided in Venice, where he fed on his views to set pictures such as The Feast of Marys and The Redeemer's Procession. It also exploited at this time themes inspired by the Italian Renaissance, such as Venetian Lady of the 16th century, Doge Moncenigo and Palace of the Venetian Republic among others. Many of the works conceived in this period ended up not only in Europe, but in the collections of great North American millionaires, all of them reaching astronomical prices. The economic bonanza allowed Villegas to build a villa-studio in Rome, with a fantastic Moorish aesthetic; which unfortunately would be demolished in the 1950s. Well into the 1980s, a Dutch publisher suggested that he illustrate with Francisco Pradilla and other famous painters from all over Europe a Great Bible. Villegas took over passages related to Isaiah's prophecies. The decade of the 90's passed calmly for the painter, who then exploited representations of ecclesiastical characters (The Cardinal Penitentiary, 1891) as well as the ever-present costumbrista theme (El día de Ramos, 1891). His renowned painting The Death of the Bullfighter, sold for 100,000 pesetas, belongs to this period. In 1898 Villegas was granted the position of director of the Academy of Spain in Rome, held until then by Alejo Vera. He makes vigorous use of his post, demanding rigor in the exercises, the application of the pensioner and the obligatory nature of a stay in Paris. In 1901 he was appointed director of the Prado Museum, so he left his Roman study house and moved his residence to Madrid. He would resign from office in 1918, following the theft of several pieces of the Dolphin Treasure by a museum employee. The portraits of Alfonso XIII (1902) and Pastora Imperio (1913) are from this period. In 1914 he concluded a singular series of twelve paintings titled Decalogue, which deal with the ten commandments plus a prologue and an epilogue; Declared a Site of Cultural Interest by the Ministry of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía in 1992. His subjects are very varied: historical, traditional and anecdotal. His brushstroke is loose and spontaneous. Among his influences are Fortuny, Madrazo and Eduardo Rosales. Sergio Carnicer was a great friend.
  • Creator:
    José Villegas (1844 - 1921)
  • Creation Year:
    Circa 1880
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 12.25 in (31.1 cm)Width: 17.21 in (43.7 cm)
  • More Editions & Sizes:
    31.1 x 43.7 cm.Price: $5,493
  • Medium:
    Canvas,Oil
  • Movement & Style:
    Realist
  • Period:
    1880-1889
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Madrid, ES
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1281110441552
More From This SellerView All
You May Also Like
  • Summer Landscape with Birches by Austrian Master Gollob Early 20th century Oil
    Located in Stockholm, SE
    Heinrich Gollob (1886 - 1917) - Austrian painter. Gollob's attention to detail demonstrates his talent for bringing landscapes to life through vibrant colors, textures and the play o...
    Category

    Early 20th Century Realist Landscape Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Wood, Cotton Canvas, Oil

    Summer Landscape with Birches by Austrian Master Gollob Early 20th century Oil

    Summer Landscape with Birches by Austrian Master Gollob Early 20th century Oil

  • Evening on River German Master Caucasian Panoramic Landscape 19th century
    Located in Stockholm, SE
    Attributed Paul Von Franken (1818-1884), famous Gemany a genre and landscape painter, signed bottom right. Fertile scenery coastal town with castle, mosque, minaret, large travelers ...
    Category

    1850s Realist Landscape Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Wood, Oil

    Evening on River German Master Caucasian Panoramic Landscape 19th century

    Evening on River German Master Caucasian Panoramic Landscape 19th century, e.g. 1850-1860

  • Peonies - Contemporary Still life Oil Painting, Realism, Polish art
    By Janusz Szpyt
    Located in Warsaw, PL
    Janusz Szpyt was born in 1960, he is a Polish painter. He graduated from the Graphic design faculty and painting from the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow. ...
    Category

    2010s Realist Landscape Paintings

    Materials

    Oil, Canvas

    Peonies - Contemporary Still life Oil Painting, Realism, Polish art

    Janusz Szpyt
    Peonies - Contemporary Still life Oil Painting, Realism, Polish art, 2022

  • Roztocze - Contemporary Landscape Oil Painting, Realism, Polish art
    By Janusz Szpyt
    Located in Warsaw, PL
    Janusz Szpyt was born in 1960, he is a Polish painter. He graduated from the Graphic design faculty and painting from the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow...
    Category

    2010s Realist Landscape Paintings

    Materials

    Oil, Canvas

    Roztocze - Contemporary Landscape Oil Painting, Realism, Polish art

    Janusz Szpyt
    Roztocze - Contemporary Landscape Oil Painting, Realism, Polish art, 2020

  • Luis Lopez, Oil on canvas "Beach Near Valencia", fishermen
    Located in Saint Amans des cots, FR
    Oil on canvas by Luis LOPEZ, 1983, Spain. Beach near Valencia. Fishermen, fisherman. With frame: 106.7x80 cm - 42x31.5 inches ; without frame: 92x65 cm - 36.2x25.5 inches. P30 format...
    Category

    1980s Realist Figurative Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

    Luis Lopez, Oil on canvas "Beach Near Valencia", fishermen

    Luis Lopez
    Luis Lopez, Oil on canvas "Beach Near Valencia", fishermen, 1983

  • Halmstad Harbour Seen From the North, 1889
    Located in Stockholm, SE
    The painting "Halmstad Harbour Seen From the North" by Oscar Ohlson is a captivating snapshot of daily life and historical architecture, frozen in time from the year 1889. With a meticulous eye for detail, Ohlson has rendered approximately 25 boats in the harbor, each brimming with the quiet bustle of daily chores. The painting invites viewers to step into a moment where people converse, work, and seek respite from the sun under shared umbrellas, while wisps of smoke subtly rise from several boats, suggesting the presence of life and activity beyond the canvas. In this vibrant scene, a man carries a sack, perhaps fresh merchandise from one of the docked vessels, while others engage in conversation, highlighting the social tapestry of the harbor. Ohlson's masterful use of light reflects on the water, creating a shimmering path that leads the eye to the majestic Halmstad Castle, which adorns the right side of the painting. This historic building, beautifully situated by the Nissan river and not far from the sea, is a testament to Halmstad's past as a Danish territory. Constructed in the early 17th century during the reign of King Christian IV, the castle stands as a reminder of the town's rich history and cultural heritage. The first building to the right, once part of this historic tableau, has been removed to accommodate modern necessities, replaced by a road that now runs through its former site. This juxtaposition of past and present is a poignant commentary on the evolution of cities and the sacrifices made in the name of progress. Halmstad itself, a town that straddles the Nissan river, retains much of its early 20th-century character in its city core. Low brick and half-timbered houses, some dating back to the 17th century, dot the landscape. The town center on the west side of Nissan is bordered by remnants of early 17th-century fortifications, including the 1600s castle, Norre Port from 1601, and King Charles XI's path along the old fortress wall. At the heart of the town is Stora Torg with Carl Milles' Europa and the Bull fountain from 1926, and the town hall built in 1938. The city layout, influenced by Renaissance planning, converges at Stora Torg, which is also home to the town's sole medieval building, the brick hall church of St. Nikolai from the 14th century. Oscar Ohlson (1847-1912), a native of Linneryd, Småland, was a multifaceted individual. Beginning his career with a legal degree from Uppsala University in 1870, Ohlson's passion for the arts led him to pursue music studies before dedicating himself to art under the guidance of Alfred Wahlberg...
    Category

    1880s Realist Landscape Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

    Halmstad Harbour Seen From the North, 1889

    Oscar Ohlson
    Halmstad Harbour Seen From the North, 1889, 1889

Recently Viewed

View All

More Ways To Browse

The Witnesses
Jose Fors
Jerusalem Paintings
Pictures On Walls
Paintings Of Jerusalem
Ten Works By Ten Painters
November 9
Renaissance Oil On Canvas
Paintings Set In The Renaissance
Gallery Wall Framed Art Set
Dutch 16 Century
Everly Brothers
Venetian Oil Canvas
Antique Philosophy
European Villa Paintings
Death In Venice Painting
Jerusalem Oil
Painting Oil Jerusalem
View All Popular Landscape Paintings Searches