Lot 22: Luis Ricardo Falero (Spanish, 1851-1896) The Tempest 29 x 16in (73.8 x 40.6cm)

Luis Ricardo Falero (Spanish, 1851-1896)
The Tempest signed and dated 'Falero / 1889' (lower right)oil on canvas29 x 16in (73.8 x 40.6cm)

Provenance: Private collection, Montreal;Thence by descent to the present owner.Luis Ricardo Falero was born to a wealthy family in Grenada, Spain, in the mid-19th century. At a young age, Falero went against his family's wish that he enroll in the military service, and instead sought to study arts. As his style developed, Falero became known for his representations of the female nude, particularly those of mythical origin, such as angels, nymphs, etc.In this particular work, Falero depicts a powerful scene from William Shakespeare's The Tempest. Here, the artist depicts the character of Prospero, adorned by a vibrant red robe with delicate accent, towering over a figure that lays draped in the middle of a tree, which appears to have been split apart. This scene references Prospero freeing the spirit Ariel from the tree she was imprisoned in by the witch Sycorax, who previously inhabited the island. Given his known preference for the female form, the artist has cast the character of Ariel as female, while other painters have interpreted it as either sex. The vivid and lush yellows and greens in the forest background provide a wonderful contrast to the dark wood of the tree trunk. Additionally, Ariel's delicate skin and garment appear to emanate a warm glow, adding to the magical element of the work.