Eduardo Zamacois y Zabala (2 July 1841 – 12 January 1871) was a Spanish

Academic An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of tertiary education. The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 386 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the go ...

painter who specialized in small-scale canvases. He was the father of the French writer Miguel Zamacoïs, brother of the writer

Niceto de Zamacois Juan Niceto de Zamacois y Urrutia (20 March 1820 in Bilbao – 29 September 1885 in Mexico City) was a Spanish journalist, playwright, poet, novelist and historian resident in Mexico. He was half-brother of the painter Eduardo Zamacois y Zabala ...

, the singer Elisa Zamacois and the actor Ricardo Zamacois, and also an uncle of the writer Eduardo Zamacois and the music composer Joaquín Zamacois.

Biography

Eduardo María Zamacois y Zabala was born in

Bilbao Bilbao is a city in northern Spain, the largest city in the Provinces of Spain, province of Biscay and in the Basque Country (greater region), Basque Country as a whole. It is also the largest city proper in northern Spain. Bilbao is the List o ...

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

; the son of Professor Miguel Antonio de Zamacois y Berreteaga (1794–1863), and his second wife, Ruperta María del Pilar de Zabala y Arauco. His father was the founder and director of the Santiago de Vizcaya School of Humanities.Brief biography
@ the

Carmen Thyssen Museum The Carmen Thyssen Museum (Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga) is an art museum in the Spanish city Málaga. The main focus of the museum is 19th-century Spanish painting, predominantly Andalusian, based on the collection of Carmen Cervera, fifth wife o ...

. His relatives included numerous artists: writers, actors and musicians. Of Basque ancestry, their surname originated in

Hasparren Hasparren (; ) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France. A resident of Hasparren is known as a 'Hazpandar'. Geography Location It's a ''commune fait partie'' of the Basque Province of Labourd. The Cô ...

, France, where it was originally spelled "Samacoys". He received a thorough education, which included drawing classes with a local artist named Joaquín Balaca (c.1820-?). Later, when his father's school closed, the family moved to Madrid and, in 1856, he was enrolled at the

Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando The Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (RABASF; ), located on the Calle de Alcalá in the centre of Madrid, currently functions as a museum and gallery. A public law corporation, it is integrated together with other Spanish royal aca ...

, where he studied with

Federico de Madrazo Federico de Madrazo y Kuntz (9 February 181510 June 1894) was a Spanish painter. Biography Born in Rome, he was the son of José de Madrazo y Agudo, the painter and former Director of the Prado Museum, and Isabel Kuntz Valentini. Federico's gra ...

.Brief biography
@ the

Museo del Prado The Museo del Prado ( ; ), officially known as Museo Nacional del Prado, is the main Spanish national art museum, located in central Madrid. It houses collections of Art of Europe, European art, dating from the 12th century to the early 20th ce ...

. In 1860, on Madrazo's recommendation, he went to Paris and attended the classes of

Charles Gleyre Marc Gabriel Charles Gleyre (2 May 1806 – 5 May 1874), was a Swiss artist who was a resident in France from an early age. He took over the studio of Paul Delaroche in 1843 and taught a number of younger artists who became prominent, including He ...

in preparation for applying to the Ècole des Beaux-Arts. His application there was denied, so he turned to the workshops of

Ernest Meissonier Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier (; 21 February 181531 January 1891) was a French academic painter and sculptor. He became famous for his depictions of Napoleon and his military sieges and manoeuvres in paintings acclaimed both for the artist's mas ...

, where he found a position. Zamacois y Zabala 001

A skillful business negotiator, he strove to gain access to as many European exhibitions as possible. Success came quickly. In 1861, he was commissioned to create decorative paintings in the quarters of the future king,

Alfonso XII Alfonso XII (Alfonso Francisco de Asís Fernando Pío Juan María de la Concepción Gregorio Pelayo de Borbón y Borbón; 28 November 185725 November 1885), also known as ''El Pacificador'' (Spanish: the Peacemaker), was King of Spain from 29 D ...

at the Palacio Real de Madrid. This work won him a grant from the , which enabled him to continue his studies. In 1862 and 1864, he was awarded medals at the National Exhibition of Fine Arts. He was married in Paris in 1865, to Louise Marie Héloise Perrin, whom he had met at the home of his friend,

Jehan Georges Vibert Jehan Georges Vibert or Jean Georges Vibert (30 September 1840 – 28 July 1902) was a French academic painter. Biography He was born in Paris, the son of engraver and publisher Théodore Vibert, and grandson of the influential rose-breeder J ...

. They had two children: Miguel Louis Pascual, who became a well-known journalist and playwright, and a posthumous daughter, Marie Hélène, (who married the painter, Jean Alfred Marioton). In 1866, he became good friends with the painter, Marià Fortuny, who did a portrait etching of him. During a trip to Rome, Zamacois also posed as a toreador for Fortuny's painting, '' The Spanish Wedding''. Later, he contacted his friend, Adolphe Goupil, and put him in touch with Fortuny, which resulted in an exclusive contract with Goupil & Cie; a turning point in Fortuny's career. In 1870, he was awarded the Gold Medal at the

Salon Salon may refer to: Common meanings * Beauty salon A beauty salon or beauty parlor is an establishment that provides Cosmetics, cosmetic treatments for people. Other variations of this type of business include hair salons, spas, day spas, ...

for his painting, ''The Education of a Prince''. After a showing in London, one of his paintings was purchased by

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist, journalist, short story writer and Social criticism, social critic. He created some of literature's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by ...

. The

Franco-Prussian War The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the War of 1870, was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the North German Confederation led by the Kingdom of Prussia. Lasting from 19 July 1870 to 28 Janua ...

created difficulties that eventually forced him to return to Madrid. His arrival there coincided with the official coronation of King Amadeus I, and he attended the ceremonies. It was an unusually cold winter and he became ill the following day. He died there suddenly, aged 29, of what was described as "gangrenous angina" (possibly

Diphtheria Diphtheria is an infection caused by the bacteria, bacterium ''Corynebacterium diphtheriae''. Most infections are asymptomatic or have a mild Course (medicine), clinical course, but in some outbreaks, the mortality rate approaches 10%. Signs a ...

). In 1878, he was awarded a posthumous diploma by the École des Beaux-Arts and a major retrospective at the Exposition Universelle. Goupil & Cie also published a large volume of photographs of his major works.

Other selected works

File:EDUARDO ZAMACOIS Y ZABALA - El Favorito del Rey (Colección Frankel Family Trust, Dallas, 1865-67. Óleo sobre tabla, 56 x 45 cm).jpg, ''The Favorite of the King'', 1865–1867 File:EDUARDO ZAMACOIS Y ZABALA - Bufones jugando al Cochonnet (Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao, 1868. Óleo sobre tabla, 46 x 35.6 cm).jpg, ''Jesters Playing'', 1868, Cochonnet File:EDUARDO ZAMACOIS Y ZABALA - Regreso al Convento (Museo Carmen Thyssen, Málaga, 1868. Óleo sobre lienzo, 54.5 x 100.5 cm).jpg, ''Return to the Convent'', 1868 File:Bautizo de pobre.jpg, ''Baptizing the Poor''

References

External links

ArtNet: More works by Zamacois.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zamacois y Zabala, Eduardo 1841 births 1871 deaths 19th-century Spanish painters Spanish male painters Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando alumni Spanish genre painters Spanish Roman Catholics Academic art Artists from Bilbao Spanish people of French descent Infectious disease deaths in Spain 19th-century Spanish male artists Basque artists

Biography

Other selected works

References

Further reading

External links