Manuel Benedito

Born in Valencia in 1875, he studied at the School of Fine Arts of San Carlos and, subsequently,  in the studio of Joaquín Sorolla, whom he always acknowledged as his mentor. He received a scholarship to the Academy of Rome between 1901 and 1904 and travelled all over Europe during his stay in Italy, as well as after it. He participated in various exhibitions both in Spain, (national Fine Arts and solo exhibitions in museums and institutions) Europe (Paris, London, Munich, Brussels, Berlin, several editions of the Venice Biennial) and America (Philadelphia, Chicago, Cincinatti, New York, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Santiago). He received several awards and accolades for his work (gold medals, academic recognition).

A painter with a solid technical background, his aesthetic style was based on his admiration for the Spanish visual arts tradition. Influenced in his youth by Sorolla’s luminism, he was interested in painting everyday life scenes, landscapes and still life. However, he is best known for his facet as a portrait painter resembling the restraint and elegance of English painters and the sobriety of Spanish painting, which was so dear to him. Up until the time of his death in 1963 he enjoyed much critical acclaim and popularity.