Blas Benlliure y Gil

1852 Canyamelar/Spain – Valencia/Spain 1936

“Flower Still Life by the Water”Oil on wood, 39 x 25 cm, signed and dated

“Flower Still Life by the Water”
Oil on wood, 39 x 25 cm, signed and dated

Pathos and nature ideally harmonize in this Spanish floral still life. Set in a decor of dark-green leaves some blossoms prominently stand out. Painted in a vivid, almost nervous manner, the otherwise peacefully arranged composite plants in the background look frazzled. In the foreground the heads of the three garden pinks bend towards a reflecting water surface, the blossoms of those with heavily inclined heads already dipping in the wet. Singular deadheads and two dead bees are floating on the water. The extraordinary depiction of light and shadow, bright and dark colours makes this small high-size work particularly appealing. 

Blas Benlliure y Gil learned the basics of painting from his father Juan Antonio Benlliure Tomás as well as in the studios of Domingo Marqués and González de Sepúlveda. Afterwards he studied with his brothers José, Juan Antonio and Mariano in Rome. As a decorator and conservator he founded a workshop in Bilbao where Blas Benlliure y Gil painted simple Franciscan scenes, wine taverns and flower still lifes. He furthermore supported his brothers in carrying out different jobs. When Mariano was appointed director of the Museo Nacional de Arte Moderno, he engaged Blas Benlliure y Gil to decorate the halls. Later he took the position of a conservator at the museum.