Ricardo de Madrazo

Ricardo de Madrazo y Garreta (7 February 1852, Madrid - 18 August 1917, Madrid) was a Spanish painter from the Madrazo family of artists, best known for his Orientalist works.

His grandfather was José de Madrazo, his father was Federico de Madrazo, his uncle was Luis de Madrazo and his brother was Raimundo de Madrazo. He studied at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando with Joaquim Espalter and the sculptors Ricardo Bellver and Ponciano Ponzano, as well as with his father.

In 1866, he became friends with Marià Fortuny, who would have a major influence on his art and life. The following year, Fortuny married his sister, Cecilia. He accompanied him to Toledo, then went with him to Rome, where he studied at the Accademia Chigi. Later, he and his brother Raimundo would work in Fortuny's studio.

He accompanied Fortuny and his family again when they moved to Paris and spent his time copying works at the Louvre and the Musée du Luxembourg. During the Franco-Prussian War, he and Raimundo returned to Spain; settling in Granada.

Later, he travelled to Morocco with Fortuny and Josep Tapiró, then returned to Rome. After Fortuny's sudden death in 1874, he took care of his studio; cataloguing his works and arranging for an auction at the Hôtel Drouot. After that, he moved between Paris, Madrid and Tangiers; living in Venice for a short time, getting married in 1884 and finally settling in Madrid in 1885.

Once there, he began to focus on portraits, which were a Madrazo family specialty. Among those who visited him at his studio were Queen Maria Christina, the philanthropist Archer Milton Huntington, the French art collector Paul Durand-Ruel and President William Taft. His knowledge of ancient art made him a sought-after adviser.