LUIS SEVIL Y LÓPEZ (Sevilla,1817-Jerez de la Frontera,1893)Retrato de un marino con la cruz de Carlos III, la cruz de la legión de honor francesa, y la cruz y banda de San Hermenegildo1848

Oil on canvas. 93,5 x 75 cm. Signed, located and dated in the lower right corner: "L. Sevil/Cádiz 1848". This magnificent portrait, signed and dated, is an emblematic work by the Sevillian painter Luis Sevil and an exceptional testimony of his artistic mastery. Painted in Cadiz in 1848, a year before he settled permanently in Jerez. During his time in Cadiz we highlight his links with the School of Noble Arts. Already in 1840, in his first Fine Arts Exhibition in Cadiz, he was praised for his technical skill and was awarded by institutions such as the Economic Society of Friends of the Country for his exceptional portraits, thus establishing himself as the portraitist par excellence among the aristocratic circles and the Cadiz society of his time. In this particular portrait, Luis Sevil has masterfully captured the dignity and importance of the sitter. On a neutral background and with a masterful handling of light, the painter creates a vibrant atmosphere that frames the figure of a sailor, seated in a serene attitude on a chair. Sevil demonstrates in this portrait his ability to create meticulous details, from the embroidery on the uniform to the sash, the buttons and tassels, even the sword, using a palette of vibrant colors that enhance every aspect of the work.