Valentín Carderera

Valentín Carderera y Solano (Huesca, 1796 – Madrid, 1880) was a collector, archeologist, painter, and writer. As well as being a proponent of the arts and a Goya enthusiast, he was a member of the Spanish Royal Academy of History, Madrid's San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts (Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando), and the Central Monuments Commision (Comisión Central de Monumentos). He was interested in collecting antiquities and works of art—especially books, engravings, prints, and paintings—from a young age. He donated part of this collection alongside his own works when the Huesca Museum was founded in 1873. He was a close friend of the artist Federico de Madrazo y Kuntz, who produced this archetypal romantic portrait. Meticulously painted in oil on canvas, it uses a cold and metallic color pallette. He started it in 1833, but did not finish until 1879.