DON FEDERICO DE MADRAZO Y KUNT (1815-1894)  , Spanish painter, was born in Rome on the 12th of February 1815 . He was the son of the painter Madrazo y Agudo (1781-1859), and received his first instruction from his father . While still attending the classes at the Academy of San Fernando he painted his first picture, " The Resurrection of Christ " (1829), which was purchased by Queen Christina . Not long afterwards he painted " Achilles in his Tent," and subsequently presented to the Academy " The Continence of Scipio," which secured him admission as a member " for merit." While decorating the palace of Vista Alegre he took up portraiture . In 1852 he went to Paris, where he studied under Winterhalter, and painted portraits of Baron Taylor and of Ingres . In 1837 he was commissioned to produce a picture for the gallery at Versailles, and painted " Godfrey de Bouillon proclaimed King of Jerusalem." The artist then went to Rome, where he worked at various subjects, sacred and profane . Then he painted " Maria Christina in the Dress of a Nun by the bedside of Ferdinand III." (1843), " Queen Isabella," " The Duchess of Medina-Coeli," and " The Countess de Vilches " (1845-1847), besides a number of portraits of the Spanish aristocracy, some of which were sent to the exhibition of 1855 . He received the Legion of Honour in 1846 . He was made a corresponding member of the Paris Academy of Fine Arts on the loth of December 1853, and in 1873, on the death of Schnorr, the painter, he was chosen foreign member . After his father's death he succeeded him as director of the Prado Gallery and president of the Academy of San Fernando . He originated in Spain the production of art reviews and journals, such as El Artiste, El Renacimiento and El Semanario pintoresco . He died at Madrid on the 11th of June 1894 .

.His

brother, DON LOUIS DE MADRAZO, was also known as a painter, chiefly by his " Burial of Saint Cecilia" (1855) . Don Federico's best-known pupil was his son, DON RAIMUNDO DE MADRAZO (b . 1841) .