Epifanio De Fortuny Y De Carpi Paintings

Mariano José María Bernardo Fortuny y Marsal, known more commonly as Marià Fortuny or Mariano Fortuny, was a Spanish painter, etcher, and watercolorist. He was born on June 11, 1838, in the small town of Reus, Catalonia, Spain. He is often confused with Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo, who was a Spanish fashion designer and his namesake, but they were not the same person.

Fortuny showed an early interest in art and was initially trained by his father, who was also a painter. After his father's death, he continued his studies at the Escola de la Llotja in Barcelona, where he was influenced by the Barbizon school and such painters as François Millet. His talent was evident from a young age, and he ultimately moved to Rome, which was a significant center for art and culture during the mid-19th century.

In Rome, Fortuny was exposed to both Classical and Renaissance art, which influenced his work. However, he also became enamored with the bright light and vivid colors of the Mediterranean, which would become characteristic of his painting style. Fortuny often traveled to Morocco and North Africa, where he created vibrant scenes of life and landscapes, capturing the exoticism that was in vogue among European artists and audiences of his time.

As a painter, Fortuny was known for his precision, vibrant colors, and the luminosity of his works. He was a master of both genre scenes and historical themes, and he often depicted Orientalist subjects, which were very popular with the wealthy patrons of his era. Fortuny's watercolors, etchings, and oil paintings were highly sought after, and he enjoyed considerable success during his lifetime.

Despite his success, Fortuny's life was tragically cut short when he died of malaria on November 21, 1874, while in Rome. He was only 36 years old. His death was a great loss to the art world, but his influence endured. Fortuny's work was a bridge between the Romanticism of the earlier 19th century and the Impressionist movement that would take hold later on. Today, he is remembered as one of the most important Spanish artists of the 19th century, and his works are held in many major museums across the world.