José de Madrazo

José de Madrazo y Agudo (22 April 1781, Santander – 8 May 1859, Madrid) was a Spanish painter and engraver; one of the primary exponents of the Neoclassical style in Spain. He was the patriarch of a family of artists that included his sons Federico and Luis; and his grandsons, Raimundo and Ricardo.

He began his studies at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando with Gregorio Ferro, a student of Anton Raphael Mengs. After 1803, he studied in Paris with Jacques-Louis David. Following David's advice, he applied for and received a government stipend to study in Rome.

In 1806 he went to Rome, where he completed his training at the Accademia di San Luca and studied Classical art. While there, he had some initial success with his rendering of the death of Viriatus. He also refused to take an oath of allegiance to the new government of King Joseph I. As a result, he and the other Spanish artists living in Rome were effectively held prisoner; first at the Castel Sant'Angelo, then at the Spanish Embassy. There, he got to know the exiled King Carlos IV and his wife, María Luisa de Borbón.

In 1809, he married Isabel Kuntze, daughter of the late painter Tadeusz Kuntze, who was also staying in Rome. Four years later, King Carlos appointed him court painter; a largely honorary title, considering the circumstances, although he did produce numerous portraits. He lost this position in 1815 when the troops of Joachim Murat entered the Papal States in an effort to unify Italy under French control, prompting King Carlos to abandon his exile.

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