Donated by the Friends of the Museo del Prado Foundation, Velázquez Circle, Drawings and Prints Committee, 2019.
The Valencian painter, also known as Antonio Rodriguez Onofre, was a discreet painter from the late 18th century. He moved to Madrid to further develop his studies in art at the Fine Arts Academy of San Fernando, an institution where he achieved important milestones, such as winning second place in a painting award. Then, in 1795, he was elevated as a professor for the academy and continued to develop important projects in the artistic field. The artwork titled 'Hortelana de Valencia,' an ink-on-paper piece measuring 170 × 108 mm, is one of the numerous ink prints that Rodriguez executed in Madrid for the series titled 'A General Collection of Costumes Currently Worn in Spain in 1801.' This piece in particular is number 86 in the collection and depicts a highly detailed figure of a woman carrying in her left arm a basket containing plants and flowers. The woman wears a traditional, silk midi skirt, worn with an ornamental scarf and apron, an attire commonly worn for the Valencian festivity of las Fallas. This piece is part of a 112-piece collection. Most of the works were created using the same medium: soot ink, wash, brush, brown ink, and black pencil on laid paper, meaning that the colors were added later on by different artists.
The painting is truly beautiful and captivating, showcasing an exceptional blend of creativity, artistic excellence, and attention to detail. The colours are thoughtfully chosen and harmoniously balanced, bringing life, depth, and vibrancy to the composition. Every brushstroke reflects the artist’s skill, patience, and imagination, while the intricate details make the artwork even more engaging. The composition is aesthetically pleasing and beautifully conveys emotion, leaving a lasting impression on the viewer. Overall, it is a remarkable piece of art that deserves appreciation for its elegance, originality, and the sheer brilliance of its execution.
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By: Dylan Joseph
Art in late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century Spain occupied a unique position at the intersection of political consolidation, Enlightenment inquiry, and visual documentation. While historical painting and aristocratic portraiture continued to dominate academic institutions like the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid, an emerging movement sought to capture the everyday fabric of Spanish society. Among the artists contributing to this genre was Antonio Rodríguez Onofre, a Valencian painter and engraver whose work bridged academic rigor and ethnographic documentation.
Rodríguez’s print Hortelana de Valencia (Gardener Woman of Valencia)—executed as part of the ambitious 1801 series Colección general de los trajes que en la actualidad se usan en España (General Collection of Costumes Currently Worn in Spain)—stands out as a vital document of regional material culture. Beyond a mere study of clothing, Hortelana de Valencia functions as an invaluable ethnographic archive disguised as fine art. By capturing the traditional attire of a Valencian agricultural worker—complete with her silk skirt, ornamental apron, decorative neckerchief, and regional hair accessories—the work offers a nuanced portrait of regional identity preservation during a transformative period in Spanish history. Through a close examination of its medium, social context, costume details, and institutional reception, this essay explores how Rodríguez elevated a working-class rural subject into a figure of dignified representation within imperial and academic spheres.
