Lot 61: Gitana de Córdoba (A gipsy from Córdoba)

Julio Romero de Torres (Spanish, 1880-1930) Gitana de Córdoba (A gipsy from Córdoba) Signed 'Romero/de Torres' (centre right) oil on canvas 32¾ x 23 in. (83 x 60 cm.)

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Julio Romero de Torres based the subject of many of his paintings on folklore. He began to paint under the instruction of his father, the well-known Andalucian artist and teacher, Rafael Romero Barros. During the early years of his development Romero de Torres was exposed to the emergence of Realism, Impressionism and Symbolism, giving rise to an inspired his inspired style. As he became one of Spain's most recognised artist's of the era, he moved to Madrid to study and reassess his artistic output. Travelling to Italy, France, England and the Netherlands he acquired a more profound symbolist slant, that was to define his later work.

Having once described himself as a 'painter from the soul of Andalucia', Romero de Torres brought his portraits to life with a sense of human reality. His work evokes an atmosphere of legend and profound sentimentality that appealed to his humble working class friends and the Córdoban aristocracy; a testiment to his great popularity.



Julio Romero de Torres se centrñ en muchos de sus cuadros en los temas folclóricos. Empezó a pintar bajo la supervisión de su padre, conocido artista y profesor anadaluz, Rafael Romero Barros. Durante su primera época, Romero de Torres, estuvo expuesto a la influencia del Realismo, Impresionismo y Simbolismo, descubriendo su propio inspirador estilo. Al convertirse en un de los artistas españoles más reconocidos de su tiempo, se traslada a Madrid para estudiar y reobjetivar su estilo artístico. Viajando a Italia, Francia, Inglaterra y Los Países Bajos adquirió un simbolismo más profundo que definirá sus siguientes obras.
Habiéndose descrito alguna vez como "el pintor del alma de Andalucía", Romero de Torres llevó sus retratos a la vida con un sentido de realidad humana. Sus obras evocan una atmósfera de leyenda y un profundo sentimentalismo que atraía tanto a sus amigos obreros como a la aristocracia andaluza: un testimonio de su gran popularidad.