High quality art and the most internationally renowned of the 19th century – Mariano Fortuny – Drawings 📷 Málaga – Spain

When I walk through the city streets and see the posters advertising a new exhibition at one of the major museums, and that advertising showcases such high-quality art, I don’t just think that I can’t miss it; I find myself lingering to look at the posters and take in their beauty. I travel back in time, as I always tell you, to my student days, and I remember the skill required to create this kind of art, to produce drawings of such detail. It is a skill acquired over time, and time is what is most valuable, which is why I admire these kinds of drawings and paintings so much.

That very poster that was on the streets of the city centre, above all, with that image of a human figure in a drawing of such artistic quality, was the same one that was on the billboard at the Thyssen Museum, a marvel I couldn’t wait to see.

It wasn’t an exhibition of paintings but of drawings, which is even more admirable, because nowadays very few people draw; instead, they paint directly onto the panel or canvas. Furthermore, drawing the human figure requires knowledge of proportions, body parts, musculature and, as I always say, the face, feet and hands are the most complicated parts to both draw and paint.

This exhibition ran from 6 February this year to 3 May, and I visited it roughly halfway through that period; I can tell you straight away that I left the gallery absolutely enchanted. There is always a room for temporary exhibitions, where works of the very highest quality, in both painting and drawing, are usually displayed, and it is the same room where Rembrandt’s works were once shown.

I wasn’t familiar with Mariano Fortuny, not by name, though I had seen some of his works before. Upon entering the blue-painted room, which made it look very elegant, and I always admire those aspects of this museum, the details, I stood there for a long time looking at each of the drawings, the lines drawn, and the details, particularly in the musculature of the human figures.

I took two photographs of some of the works: one from a distance, like all the others, so that the whole piece could be seen, including the title, but, as I said, for some I took an extra close-up to really capture those details I’m telling you about, so I could bring them to you and let you see what my eyes saw, a true marvel of the art of drawing.

Of course, in all the city’s major museums, there is always plenty of information about the artist or artists featured in an exhibition, and that’s brilliant for all the visitors who come to enjoy the excellent works of art. Furthermore, in the city’s largest museums and those most visited by tourists, the information is provided in two or three languages, but always in Spanish and English.

Mariano Fortuny y Marsal is recognised as the most international Spanish artist of the 19th century, and his family always took care to preserve his creative legacy. His work was worthy of admiration, and for that reason his family decided to distribute his works amongst the most important cultural institutions across Europe.

Thus, society has benefited from all this artistic value, thereby paying a great tribute to an exceptional artist. Fortuny’s work has stood the test of time; he achieved success beyond what could have been imagined and, due to his short life, he died suddenly at the age of 36, his work has taken on an almost mystical significance.

So long after his death, his works re-emerge as a nostalgic reminder of a tradition from another era, within a very different modernity. For this exhibition, a selection of over thirty works has been made, comprising the artist’s drawings and engravings, all of such quality and refinement that they leave every visitor to this marvellous exhibition in awe. I have nothing but words of admiration for such beautiful art.

The works take us on a journey through the most outstanding creative moments of this great artist, who possessed an innate talent for drawing. His technique is perfect and incredible. Furthermore, he was an artist who travelled extensively to different cities across Europe, which further contributed to his personal and artistic growth.

I feel happy to have had the great privilege of attending this magnificent exhibition, which is so significant and of such high quality both for its time and for the present day. Thank you very much for joining me today; I send you my warmest regards. See you soon.
Amonet.