Following models of Antonio María Esquivel, 19th century.

Spanish school of the 19th century. Following models of ANTONIO MARÍA ESQUIVEL Y SUÁREZ DE URBINA (Seville, 1806-Madrid, 1857).
"La Celestina" or "Erotic Scene".
Oil on canvas.
Measurements: 126 x 95 cm; 150 x 119 cm (frame).

This painting is a work of great interest both for its subject matter and its stylistic execution. It follows closely the models of the famous romantic painter Antonio María Esquivel y Suárez de Urbina. Entitled "La Celestina" or "Erotic Scene", it evokes the famous tragicomedy of the same name by Fernando de Rojas.

The composition is dynamic and theatrical, centered on an interior scene full of ambiguity. The main focus falls on a young woman, seated on an unmade bed. Her posture and expression convey surprise or alarm: her torso is turned, her right hand raised in a gesture of rejection or fright, and her white dress, with a generous neckline, suggests a situation of interrupted intimacy. Her gaze turns apprehensively to the figure beside her: a dwarf attired in a bicorn-style hat, red vest and dark breeches. His expression is lively and gesticulating, with his hands raised, as if he were in the middle of an impassioned speech.

The lower third of the painting is populated by other figures that add a grotesque and mysterious character to the scene. Beneath the bed, another dwarf looks directly at the viewer with a complicit or mischievous smile. Next to him, another short figure holds a cat, an animal that in classical iconography symbolizes lust, betrayal or the occult. Other barely visible faces emerge from the gloom, creating a claustrophobic and voyeuristic atmosphere.

The work clearly follows the postulates of Spanish Romanticism, influenced by the tradition of the Golden Age, especially in the use of chiaroscuro. The color palette is based on earthy, ochre and red tones, which contrast with the luminosity of the protagonist's white dress. The brushstrokes capture the expressiveness of the characters, which border on caricature, a trait that can be found in the genre and satirical painting of the time.

The title "La Celestina" suggests that the painting is an allegorical interpretation or scene inspired by the literary work. Although it does not represent a specific passage literally, it captures its spirit: corruption, mediation in carnal love and the loss of innocence. The young woman could be a representation of Melibea, beset by temptations and figures orchestrating her amorous encounter. The dwarves, recurring figures in Spanish court and art (as in Velázquez's work), could function here as personifications of the vices, the gossiping servants or the intermediaries of the procuress Celestina. The alternative title, "Erotic Scene," is more direct and underscores the sensual tension of the composition. The work moves in ambiguity, leaving the viewer to decide whether it is a scene of seduction, harassment or a comedy of entanglements with a grotesque and moralizing touch.

Esquivel was the most representative and prolific painter of Sevillian romanticism, and one of the most outstanding of his time in Spain. 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 is represented in numerous private collections and institutions such as the Prado Museum, the Huesca City Hall, the Lázaro Galdiano Museum in Madrid, the Fine Arts Museum in Seville, the Romantic and Naval Museums in Madrid, the National Library and the Santa Cruz Museum in Toledo, among many others.