- Type of work: Easel painting
- Technique: Oil on canvas
- Approximate dimensions: 73 x 55 cm
- Subject: Portrait
- Title: Pageboy of Louis XIII
- Author: Manuel González Méndez (1845-1909)
- Chronology or Year: 19th Century
- Historical-artistic analysis:
Style: Cabinet painting, within the classicist tradition and academic perfectionism, which characterizes the French painting of the second half of the 19th century.
Iconography: With great virtuosity in the correctness of the drawing and in the treatment of light and color, he recreates a portrait of 1⁄2 body in 3/4 position slightly turned to the left of a richly attired adolescent, with a profusely pleated neck ruff. The precious treatment of the set stands out, especially of the clothing in terms of texture and color, reflecting the elegance and delicacy of the French taste of the time.
Date of reception: It became part of the patrimony of the Casino of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1907, ceded “almost as a gift” by the artist himself, according to the Memory read at the General Meeting of December 27, 1907.
Observations: This is probably the same work entitled Un page sous Louis XIII with which in 1902 González Méndez participated in the Paris Salon. In 1994, the painting was loaned to the company, at the request of Sr. Mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, for the exhibition Manuel González Méndez o el lenguaje de la luz, held at the Museo Municipal de Bellas Artes, from July 13 to September 15, 1994, on the occasion of the Fundación de Santa Cruz Cinco Siglos, curated by Gerardo Fuentes.
About the author: Manuel González Méndez (Santa Cruz de la Palma 1843 – Barcelona 1909) began his studies at the Provincial Academy of Fine Arts of Tenerife with Valentín Sanz, Filiberto Lallier and Nicolás Alfaro, extending them from 1870 in Paris, where he was taught by Leon Gerome (1824 – 1904) at the Academy of Fine Arts of that city. Already in 1875 his work obtained a special mention at the Universal Exhibition in Paris, participating periodically in the Parisian Salons, reaping success and honors: in 1889 the title of Knight of the Royal Order of Isabel the Catholic and Officer of the Academy of Fine Arts in Paris and Cross of the Legion of Honor in 1898. In 1900 he returned to the islands, set up his studio in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and in 1904 obtained the Chair of Modeling and Decorative Composition at the Municipal School of Drawing in that city. Although he cultivated all genres, he is the main representative of Canarian costumbrismo of the 19th century, standing out as a portraitist due to his technical mastery and his ability to penetrate the soul of the characters.
Bibliography:
Archive of the Casino de Tenerife. Book of General Meetings, Session of December 27, 1907; Minutes of the Board of Directors, June 16, 1994, pp.125.
Faly GUTIÉRREZ: Manuel González Méndez 1843 – 1909, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 1978. M.Á. ALLOZA MORENO: Manuel González Méndez, Library of Canary Artists no 6, Viceconsejería de Cultura y Deportes, Government of the Canary Islands, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 1995. Agustín GUIMERÁ RAVINA, Alberto DARIAS PRÍNCIPE: El Casino de Tenerife 1840 – 1990, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 1992.
