PLÃCIDO FRANCÉS Y PASCUAL (Alcoy, 1834 - Madrid, 1902).
Untitled.
Watercolour on paper.
Signed and located (Madrid), in the lower right corner.
Size: 34,5 x 24,5 cm; 47 x 38 cm (frame).
He was born in Alcoy, and he began his artistic training in Valencia in the Academy of San Carlos of Valencia, but he moved to Madrid in 1854 to complete his studies. There he enrolled as a student at the San Fernando Academy in Madrid, later, in 1861, he was appointed professor at the School of Fine Arts in Valencia and later at the School of Arts and Industries in Madrid. In 1882 he was awarded the Cross of Carlos III. Antonio Cortina Farinós was one of his best-known pupils. In 1862, he painted decorations for the "Palacio del Marqués de Dos Aguas" in Valencia. Four years later, he painted medallions of Venus on the ceiling with putti and cherubs for the ballroom of the palace. He also worked on the palaces of the Duke of Santoña and the Marquis of Larios. In 1870 he moved to Madrid, where he became one of the founders of the Círculo de Bellas Artes and the Madrid Association of Watercolourists. He also became a professor at the San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts and began to show his works at the annual National Exhibition of Fine Arts, where he won medals in 1871, 1890 and 1892. His illustrations often appeared in the magazine Blanco y Negro. He died in Madrid, aged 68. Two of his children were also painters: Fernanda Francés y Arribas (1862-1939), who specialised in painting flowers, and Juan Francés Mexía (1873-1954) and his cousin was the painter Emilio Sala, who was also one of his pupils.