Jose Puyet

Goyesque man oil on canvas painting portrait

c.1980

Puyet was born in Malaga, Spain. He was the grandson of Professor José Padilla, a Spanish artist who began painting in the nineteenth century. As a child, Puyet learned to paint by watching his grandfather, whose company he preferred to that of children his age. At the age of eight he had started working on paencils and oils. At the age of 20, Puyet entered the Spanish army due to World War II and was sent to the exclave of Melilla. The experience deepened his observations of new people. His superiors learned of his talent and often relieved him of guard duty to allow him to create paintings of the families of the High Commanders.