Artwork
El general Evaristo Fernández San Miguel I duque de San Miguel

El general Evaristo Fernández San Miguel I duque de San Miguel is an oil painting by Federico de Madrazo y Kuntz. It dates from 1854 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Additional iconographic elements include a book and a hat, objects placed within the composition to further characterize the sitter's identity and role.
The painting depicts General Evaristo Fernández San Miguel, later the 1st Duke of San Miguel, presented in a formal portrait format. The subject is shown wearing the insignia of the Order of Charles III, a high Spanish honor, which signifies his distinguished service and status within the nation. Additional iconographic elements include a book and a hat, objects placed within the composition to further characterize the sitter's identity and role. Created in 1854, the work serves as a visual record of the general's prominence during this period.
Technique & Style
The portrait is executed in oil on canvas. Measuring 210 cm in height and 135 cm in width, it employs a conventional stretcher support typical of mid-nineteenth-century Spanish academic portraiture.
The handling reflects Madrazo’s polished studio practice, combining smooth transitions in the sitter’s uniform and flesh with a restrained emphasis on the insignia of the Order of Charles III and a book, rendered with crisp detail against softer, blended passages. The controlled brushwork and subdued palette prioritize clarity and dignity, aligning with the conventions of official portraiture in the period.
History & Provenance
The portrait of General Evaristo Fernández San Miguel, I Duke of San Miguel, was created by Federico de Madrazo y Kuntz in 1854. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 210 cm in height and 135 cm in width. The painting has been part of the collection of the Museo del Prado since its inception.
The specific commission details and the full chain of ownership prior to its acquisition by the museum are not detailed in the provided sources.
Context
The portrait of El general Evaristo Fernández San Miguel I duque de San Miguel was created in 1854 by Federico de Madrazo y Kuntz for the Museo del Prado. Contemporary scholarship situates the work within the Spanish academic tradition of the mid-19th century, reflecting formal conventions of aristocratic portraiture while engaging with political symbolism associated with the Order of Charles III. Its composition and execution have been analyzed as exemplars of the transition from Neoclassicism toward a more naturalistic approach in Spanish painting.
The painting's presence in a national museum collection underscores its recognized significance in the narrative of Spanish art history.
Overview
Federico de Madrazo y Kuntz painted this oil portrait in 1854, presenting General Evaristo Fernández San Miguel, duque de San Miguel. The work belongs to the Prado Museum’s collection and exemplifies mid‑nineteenth‑century Spanish portraiture, focusing on the military figure’s rank and personal attributes.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Federico de Madrazo y Kuntz (1815–1894) was an artist, born in Spain.









