Raimundy de Madrazo y Garreta was born in Rome and was the son of painter Federico de Madrazo y Kuntz. Though born in Italy and most active in France, he is considered to be a Spanish Realist and Impressionist painter. His earliest artistic training came from his father, and then at the Academy in Madrid. After also studying under Leon Cogniet in Paris, Madrazo began to paint on his own in a distinctly academic style.

Garreta became known as a portraitist and genre painter and is also sometimes credited as Raimundy y Madrazo. He initially started out painting historical scenes, but was influenced into painting genre scenes by the Belgian painter Alfred Stevens. His genre scenes featured beautiful women of the day engaged in leisure activities and sport, parlor scenes and other typical French “genres.” Above all, Garreta was known for his portraits of women in the classical, academic treatment. Sometimes painted in sensual, almost risqué poses; Garreta’s sitters were portrayed as being confident, fashionable and beautiful beings.

Although he was considered a Spanish artist, Garreta’s art was clearly more influenced by Parisian artists and contemporary styles. In fact, he separated himself so much from the Spanish art world that he never participated in national exhibitions in Spain. None of his works were directly acquired by the state as a result during his lifetime. While Garreta’s style was still sprinkled with Rococo influence, he also borrowed from Japanese technique and art from time to time, and did not limit himself to Spanish academic theory.

During his lifetime, he lived in Paris and New York, and he traveled and exhibited extensively, particularly in Paris. Today his work is housed in public and private collections all over Europe and the United States, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, The Musee d’Orsay in Paris and the Prado Museum in Spain. Still wondering about a French parlor scene or 19th century portrait of a lady hanging in your home? Contact us… it could be by Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta.