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FERNANDO BOTERO (b. 1932)

 
FERNANDO BOTERO - Autoretrato a la manera de Velázquez - sanguine and crayon on cardboard - 60 1/2 x 47 1/2 in. FERNANDO BOTERO - Autoretrato a la manera de Velázquez - sanguine and crayon on cardboard - 60 1/2 x 47 1/2 in. FERNANDO BOTERO - Autoretrato a la manera de Velázquez - sanguine and crayon on cardboard - 60 1/2 x 47 1/2 in. FERNANDO BOTERO - Autoretrato a la manera de Velázquez - sanguine and crayon on cardboard - 60 1/2 x 47 1/2 in. FERNANDO BOTERO - Autoretrato a la manera de Velázquez - sanguine and crayon on cardboard - 60 1/2 x 47 1/2 in. FERNANDO BOTERO - Autoretrato a la manera de Velázquez - sanguine and crayon on cardboard - 60 1/2 x 47 1/2 in. FERNANDO BOTERO - Autoretrato a la manera de Velázquez - sanguine and crayon on cardboard - 60 1/2 x 47 1/2 in. FERNANDO BOTERO - Autoretrato a la manera de Velázquez - sanguine and crayon on cardboard - 60 1/2 x 47 1/2 in. FERNANDO BOTERO - Autoretrato a la manera de Velázquez - sanguine and crayon on cardboard - 60 1/2 x 47 1/2 in. FERNANDO BOTERO - Autoretrato a la manera de Velázquez - sanguine and crayon on cardboard - 60 1/2 x 47 1/2 in.
Autoretrato a la manera de Velázquez196060 1/2 x 47 1/2 in.(153.67 x 120.65 cm) sanguine and crayon on cardboard
Provenance
Private Collection, New York
Estudio Actual, Caracas, Venezuela
Private Collection, Bogota, Columbia
CDS Gallery, New York
Private Collection, New York
Exhibition
included in several exhibitions of Latin American Masters, Estudio Actual, Venezuela, 1970 - 1980. (Latin American Masters, June 1, 1982 - May 28, 1994)
Literature
Padilla, C., & Botero, F. (2012). Fernando Botero: La búsqueda del estilo : 1949-1963. Bogota, Colombia: Fundación Proyecto Bachué. ill. p. 139
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“For all life is a dream, and dreams are only dreams.” -Pedro Calderón de la Barca, “Life is a Dream”

History

What does it mean to portray somebody? What is our legacy? Although no definitive answer can be made, this work by famed Colombian painter Fernando Botero gives tantalizing glimpses into the possibilities. Botero, best known for his voluptuously rotund human figures, was born in Medellín, Colombia on April 19, 1932.

While studying painting in Madrid in the early 1950s, Botero made his living by copying paintings housed in the Prado Museum—particularly those of his idols including Diego Velázquez. Velázquez is one of the most important artists, not just in Spain but in art history. Velázquez painted during the Golden Age of Spain, creating portraits of the royal court. One of his most famous works, Las Meninas, has influenced and even been re-interpreted by artists like Pablo Picasso and John Singer Sargent. Spain’s Golden Age included the great novelist Miguel de Cervantes and playwright Pedro Calderón de la Barca. In the works of these Golden Age artists and writers is a deep examination of what it means to be human.

In Dibujo a la Manera de Velasquez (1960), Botero appears to be riffing on Velázquez’s painting, The Jester Don Diego de Acedo, one of his portraits of jesters and “men of pleasure” painted to decorate the royal palaces. That painting has been in the Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain, since 1819. Here, we must confront both Velázquez’s depiction and Botero’s own re-interpretation. Velázquez was renowned for his humanity and his portraiture of the little people that occupied Spain’s royal court. The original painting highlights his ability to capture their reality and dignity in stark contrast to their station. His portraits, themselves objects of legacy, explore the inner life of their subjects.

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“All human beings have three lives: public, private, and secret.” -Gabriel García Márquez

Similar Artworks Sold at Auction

Colored crayon and charcoal on canvas. 68½ x 51¼ in. Sold at Christie’s, New York: 31 May 2007.

"Menina (After Velázquez)" (1982) sold for $734,400.

Colored crayon and charcoal on canvas. 68½ x 51¼ in. Sold at Christie’s, New York: 31 May 2007.
  • Created several years after Autoretrato a la manera de Velázquez (1960)
  • Both artworks are drawn with crayon, while Menina (After Velázquez) was drawn on canvas and Autoretrato a la manera de Velázquez is on cardboard
  • Both works highlight the essential and lasting influence of Diego Velázquez on Fernando Botero’s art
Oil and paper collage on canvas. 41 x 42 in. Sold at Sotheby’s New York: 18 May 2022.

"El taller de Vermeer" (1964) sold for $403,200.

Oil and paper collage on canvas. 41 x 42 in. Sold at Sotheby’s New York: 18 May 2022.
  • Created only four years after Autoretrato a la manera de Velázquez (1960)
  • Both El taller de Vermeer (1964) and Autoretrato a la manera de Velázquez (1960) illustrate Botero’s engagement with famous Old Master paintings
Charcoal and pastel on paper laid down on panel. 52⅞ by 43½ in. Sold at Sotheby’s New York: 15 November 2022.

"Mona Lisa" (1959) sold for $264,600.

Charcoal and pastel on paper laid down on panel. 52⅞ by 43½ in. Sold at Sotheby’s New York: 15 November 2022.
  • Created shortly before Autoretrato a la manera de Velázquez (1960)
  • Mona Lisa (1959) was created with similar materials to Autoretrato a la manera de Velázquez (1960)
  • Both Mona Lisa (1959) and Autoretrato a la manera de Velázquez (1960) illustrate Botero’s engagement with famous Old Master paintings

Drawings in Museum Collections

Museo Botero, Bogotá, Columbia

“Mujer” (1951), sanguine on paper, 13 3/4 x 17 in.

Santa Barbara Museum of Art

“Self-Portrait with Still Life” (1979), graphite and chalk on paper, 14 x 17 in.

The Museum of Modern Art, New York

“Woman in a Bathtub” (1974), pencil on paper, 17 x 14 in.

The Art Institute of Chicago

“Street Scene” (1976), graphite on paper, 17 1/16 × 13 7/8 in.

Additional Resources

TEDx Talks

Listen to Botero discuss his unique style and appreciation for art historical tradition with TEDx Talks.

Museo del Prado

Learn about the Velázquez painting at Museo del Prado, the source material for Botero’s drawing.

Beaux-Arts Mons

Discover the current exhibition of Botero’s work at Beaux-Arts Mons in Belgium, featuring a broad collection of drawings and sculptures.

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