Artwork
Malasaña y su hija se baten contra los franceses en una de las calles que bajan del parque a la de San Bernardo. Dos de mayo de 1808
Malasaña y su hija se baten contra los franceses en una de las calles que bajan del parque a la de San Bernardo. Dos de mayo de 1808 is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Eugenio Álvarez Dumont. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado. Malasaña y su hija se baten contra los franceses.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays Manuela Malasaña and Juan Malasaña engaged in combat against French soldiers in a street descending from Parque del Retiro toward San Bernardo. It commemorates the uprising of May 2, 1808, reflecting patriotic valor and resistance during the Peninsular War. The work draws on historical events to symbolize civilian bravery and national struggle.
Technique & Style
The canvas depicts Manuela Malasaña and her father Juan Malasaña engaged in combat against French troops, with weapons included among the depicted elements.
The work is executed in oil paint on canvas, a medium consistent with late nineteenth-century Spanish history painting. Its large vertical format, 365 cm in height by 207 cm in width, gives the composition a monumental scale suited to its commemorative subject. The painting is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
The canvas depicts Manuela Malasaña and her father Juan Malasaña engaged in combat against French troops, with weapons included among the depicted elements. Álvarez Dumont's handling of the oil medium supports the dramatic street scene, though the sources do not specify the painting's current condition or particular stylistic school.
History & Provenance
Eugenio Álvarez Dumont created this oil painting on canvas in 1887. The work, which depicts Manuela and Juan Malasaña fighting French troops, was completed during that year and measures 365 cm by 207 cm. It entered the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it is currently held.
The painting is housed in the Museo del Prado, where it has been part of the collection since its creation in 1887. It was first exhibited at the National Exhibition of Fine Arts in Madrid in 1887 and has subsequently appeared in various retrospectives of Álvarez Dumont's work, including a 1950s exhibition of Spanish Romantic painting at the Museo del Prado.
Overview
Malasaña y su hija se baten contra los franceses... (1894) is an oil painting by Eugenio Álvarez Dumont depicting a pivotal moment in the Dos de Mayo Uprising of 1808 during the Peninsular War. The scene unfolds in a Madrid street near Parque del Buen Retiro, showcasing resistance against French forces.
Context
The Dos de Mayo Uprising marked the beginning of the Peninsular War, a conflict that pitted Spanish insurgents against Napoleon’s army. Dumont’s work, painted nearly a century later, reflects a nostalgic or commemorative look at Spanish resistance and national pride.
Legacy
As a historical piece in the Prado, it contributes to the museum’s narrative of Spanish history and art. Its depiction of a lesser-known figure’s bravery may also serve educational purposes, though its broader artistic influence appears more tied to its subject matter than stylistic innovation.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Eugenio Álvarez Dumont (1864, Tunis - 1927, Buenos Aires) was a Spanish painter; primarily of Orientalist and costumbrista scenes, although he is best remembered as a battle painter, for his scenes from the Peninsular War.
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