Jenaro Pérez Villaamil

George William Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon (purchased during his ambassadorship in Madrid between 1833-1839. Clarendon (1800-1870) was later British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs between 1853-1858)
Thence by descent to the present owner (see previous lot)

Apart from two works which have been more recently cleaned (one, illustrated in the bottom left in the catalogue, with spots of retouching in the red dress); one with a diagonal scratch to the surface in the upper part (illustrated in the catalogue, top row, second from the left); another slightly bowed with spots of paint flaking (second row, second from the right); one with a few short scuffs (illustrated bottom right); and occasional pinhole-sized spots of paint flaking in the works, mainly to the edges, and some craquelure, the sixteen works are in good untouched condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Painted in the artist's swift, Romantic style, the popular types are here the primary subject, with the architecture secondary - a reversal compared with the previous lot. In his artistic training in Cadiz, Villaamil had been steeped in the popular Costumbrista style centred there.

As Richard Ford notes, the merits of the Costumbrista artists enjoyed great recognition outside Spain, and particularly in England, by those who appreciated the exoticism and Romanticism of these folkloric types (Imagen Romántica en España, exh. cat., Palacio de Velazquez, Madrid 1981, p. 69). Painted during the same years as the previous lot, these small-scale paintings were part of the Earl of Clarendon's property shipped to London in 1839.