Mariano Benlliure

MARIANO BENLLIURE (Valencia, 1862 – Madrid, 1947).
"Virgin of the Forsaken"
Terracotta relief
Shows signs of wear
Signed
Measurements: 47 x 33 x 3 / 91 x 76 cm.

High-relief plaque depicting the Virgin of the Forsaken on her processional pedestal, crowned by a large, radiant diadem of stars and surrounded by a halo of rays. The Virgin, dressed in the embroidered mantle and rich robes characteristic of her Valencian iconography, holds the Child in her left arm. The lower register depicts a scene of popular life: on either side, two figures of farmworkers dressed in traditional Valencian attire, watching the image pass by.

Here is a rewritten and adapted version, with a more fluid tone and tailored to the format of a biographical note for an auction catalog:

Born into a family with a deep artistic tradition, Mariano Benlliure was a precocious talent: before he turned ten, he was already participating in competitions and exhibitions. In 1881, he moved to Rome, from where he traveled to Paris to visit Francisco Domingo Marqués, whom he always considered his mentor. During his time in Rome, he earned a living painting watercolors, which allowed him to devote himself more freely to sculpture. His admiration for Michelangelo ultimately led him to set aside his paintbrushes and devote himself entirely to this discipline.

His extensive and versatile body of work encompasses virtually all genres and techniques of sculpture, with a particular focus on public and funerary monuments: nearly a hundred works of this type are preserved throughout Spain and Latin America. His style is defined by meticulous and detailed naturalism, combined with spontaneous impressionism and a fluid, energetic modeling, in which the artist’s hand is directly imprinted on the clay.