JOSÉ BENLLIURE GIL (Valencia, 1855 - 1937). "In... Lot 104

JOSÉ BENLLIURE GIL (Valencia, 1855 - 1937). "In the Library". Oil on panel. Signed in the lower right corner. Measurements: 37.5 x 53.5 cm; 67 x 84 cm (frame). In the interior of an old library, full of valuable volumes bound in leather, a cardinal surrounded by an altar boy and an assistant is preparing to read a passage from The Gospels, opening the book on a lectern. A chandelier hangs from the ceiling and the floor is strewn with silver objects, a world ball and loose sheets of paper, botafumeiros and other liturgical utensils. With a virtuoso brushstroke, Benlliure extracts the right qualities and textures from each object, as well as capturing the expressions of the figures with the utmost verism and endowing the interior with an atmosphere of sublime recollection. The brother of the painter Juan Antonio and the sculptor Mariano, José Benlliure cultivated genre and portrait painting. He began his artistic studies with Francisco Domingo in Valencia and later continued his training in Madrid, where he settled in 1869. In 1879 he moved to Rome, where he was director of the Spanish Academy of Fine Arts from 1903 to 1913. In 1897 he travelled to Tangiers, Algeria and Morocco, where he produced more luminous and free works with an Impressionist influence. From 1900 onwards his work depicts popular themes. He was an honest and sensitive painter, and his works on popular themes, such as the one shown here, are particularly outstanding, with scenes treated in a direct and spontaneous manner. He took part in the National Exhibitions of Fine Arts, winning third medals in 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. The most important part of his production is kept in Valencia, in his Casa Museo and in the San Pío V Fine Arts Museum. He is also represented in the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Palace of Charles V in Granada, among others.