Vicente Rodés y Aries

Rodés y Aries was one of the leading Spanish portraitists of the 19th century, but it is only recently that his career and reputation have been re-examined and appreciated afresh, not least through the exhibition held at the Museo de Bellas Artes, Valencia, 19 June - 8 September 2019 - the first monographic show of his works held since 1926.¹

^Rodés y Aries started his studies at the Escuela de Dibujo del Consulado in Alicante. A child prodigy, he was appointed acting director of the School of Drawing at the age of only 18 years old, before going to the Academia de San Carlos de Valencia. In 1820, Rodés relocated to Barcelona to paint the portrait of the Conde de Santa Clara and gained immediate recognition in the city, opening a workshop in Carrer dels Escudellers. He was appointed the Professor of Colour and Composition at the Escuela de Nobles Artes de la Junta de Comercio in 1834.

¹ The catalogue to the exhibition may be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/k6i3igb7v75xe3t/catalogo%20rodes.pdf?dl=0