CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

Born into one of the most important artistic dynasties in Spain, Raimundo de Madrazo (Rome, 1841–Versailles, 1920) was a renowned genre painter and portraitist. This exhibition—the first retrospective dedicated to the artist—explores Madrazo’s international career as he became one of the most successful painters in Belle Époque Paris.

After studying painting with his father, who urged him to produce large historical canvases in pursuit of academic recognition, Madrazo instead settled in Paris to paint for that city’s thriving art market. He produced commercial works inspired by the tableautins, or small paintings of carefully staged interior scenes, by Ernest Meissonier and Mariano Fortuny. In doing so, Madrazo demonstrated remarkable painterly skill and a mastery of color, thus commanding high prices internationally.

By the final decades of the 19th century, Madrazo had established himself as the leading figure among the colony of Spanish artists in Paris. He produced numerous portraits of Spanish and Parisian women and carnival scenes that were widely reproduced in prints. He also gained favor among North America’s elite, earning a reputation as the go-to artist for “French-style” portraits.

This exhibition has been organized by the Meadows Museum, SMU, Dallas, and Fundación MAPFRE, Madrid, and is funded by a generous gift from The Meadows Foundation. Promotional support is provided by the Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District.