Jesús Rodríguez Corredoyra

JESÚS RODRÍGUEZ CORREDOYRA DE CASTRO (Lugo, 1889 - 1939).
"Landscape of Lugo", 1919.
Oil on canvas.
Signed in the lower left corner.
Measurements: 61 x 81 cm; 80 x 99 cm (frame).

Jesús Corredoyra offers us an incursion in the landscape of his native Lugo, distancing himself from the portraitist aspect that predominated in his production. His artistic imagery stands as a pillar of the Galician regionalism of the inter-century, characterized by a deep vocation for local customs and an ethnographic rigor that dignifies the local identity. Possessing a solid academic background, Corredoyra combines a technical and detailed drawing with a palette of warm and vibrant tones. His meticulous workmanship not only pursues aesthetic veracity, but also seeks to elevate popular traditions and clothing to the category of cultural symbol.

Considered the initiator of the Galician school of painting, Corredoyra was born into a wealthy family, and in 1903 he obtained a scholarship from the Diputación de Lugo to study at the School of Fine Arts in Madrid. In the capital he would later complete his training as a disciple of Joaquín Sorolla and Cecilio Pla. He finally returned to his native Galicia, where he remained for the rest of his life, except for sporadic trips abroad. A man of tormented spirit with ideas of death, sin and the Last Judgment, with an insecure character, Corredoyra was not able to assimilate the social, political and economic changes of his time, nor did he identify himself with any nationalist movement. His privileged social position, however, allowed him to become the favorite painter of the bourgeoisie and the clergy of Lugo. He also participated in some official competitions, being awarded in the National Exhibition of Fine Arts with honorable mention in 1908 and 1909 and second medal in 1917. He is currently represented in the Fine Arts Museums of A Coruña, Lugo and Pontevedra.