Antonio María Esquivel y Suárez de Urbina (8 March 1806, Seville - 9 April 1857, Madrid) was a Spanish painter who specialized in portraits.
Born into a family of noble lineage, he began his studies at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de Santa Isabel de Hungría in Seville. There, he became familiar with the pictorial techniques practiced by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, 17th century Spanish Baroque painter. In 1831, already married and in need of work, he moved to Madrid and enrolled at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, becoming a merit scholar. He was also involved in the intellectual life of Madrid and, in 1837, was an active participant in founding the local "Artistic and Literary Lyceum", where he gave classes in anatomy, a subject that he would later teach at the San Fernando Academy.
His official recognitions include the "Commander's Cross" of the Order of Isabella the Catholic. In 1843, he was named Court painter and, in 1847, a Professor at the San Fernando Academy. He was a founding member of the "Society for the Protection of the Fine Arts" and wrote a book on art theory: Tratado de Anatomía Pictórica. His sons Carlos (1830-1867) and Vicente (fl.1860s-70s) also became painters. He died in Madrid, aged 51.
Esquivel’s paintings, especially Romantic style portraits, are present in numerous Spanish museums, such as the Prado Museum, the Naval Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of Romanticism, among others.
Source: Wikipedia.
Artist: Antonio María Esquivel (1806-1857).
Signed and dated bottom right: A. Esquivel, 1849.
Medium: Oil on canvas.
Condition: Excellent condition.
Dimensions: 124 x 93 cm / 48 3/4 x 36 1/2 in.
Frame: Sold without frame.
Origin: Spain.