Possibly Antonio María Esquivel

Andalusian School, ca. 1830. Possibly ANTONIO MARÍA ESQUIVEL SUAREZ DE URBINA (Seville, 1806 - Madrid, 1857).
"Portrait of a lady.
Oil on canvas.
Presents faults and Puncture.
Period frame.
Measurements: 66 x 53 cm; 77 x 64 x 5 cm.

This canvas, whose delicate workmanship and way of idealizing the model refer to the work of the Sevillian master Antonio María Esquivel, is a refined exponent of the Spanish romantic portrait. The lady, depicted bust-length, wears a sumptuous emerald green dress with a boat neckline that accentuates the elegance of the shoulders, framed by the puffed sleeves characteristic of the fashion of the time. The ensemble is enriched by a knotted scarf at the front and a superb jewelry device, composed of drop earrings, elements that underline the social status of the portrayed and Esquivel's mastery in capturing material qualities.

Antonio María Esquivel is considered the most representative and prolific painter of Sevillian romanticism, and one of the most outstanding in Spain at the time. Trained at the Academy of Fine Arts of Seville, he was appointed chamber painter in 1843 and member of the Royal Academy of San Fernando in 1847, collaborated with the publications "El siglo XIX" and "El Panorama" and was part of the Artistic and Literary Lyceum. He taught at the San Fernando Academy in Madrid. Although he dealt with very diverse subjects, portraiture is essential in his career. In addition to the artistic merit, his portraits illustrate the society of his time with historical rigor, without neglecting the affective values. He received many commissions for portraits in different formats, and also made several self-portraits, one of which is preserved in the Prado Museum. He also made group portraits, which speak of his fascination with the Dutch Baroque and his corporate portraits. As for religious themes, he was a follower of Murillo, in relation to his own condition as a Sevillian. His history paintings had a very personal, literary and theatrical character, the result of the romantic environment in which he lived. Among his official recognitions are the plaque of the Siege of Cadiz and the Cross of Commander of the Order of Isabella the Catholic. In 2006, in commemoration of his second centenary, the Academy of Fine Arts of Seville, in collaboration with the El Monte Foundation, held a retrospective exhibition dedicated to his work. He is represented in the Prado Museum, the Huesca City Hall, the Lázaro Galdiano Museum, the Fine Arts Museum of Seville, the Romantic and Naval Museums of Madrid, the National Library and the Santa Cruz Museum of Toledo, among many others.