Pascual Zayas y Chacón - Public domain portrait painting

Vicente Lopez Portana was born in Valencia, Spain, in 1772. He began his artistic training at the Royal Academy of San Carlos in Valencia, where he studied under the painter Ignacio Vergara. In 1794 he moved to Madrid to continue his studies at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando. Lopez Portana quickly gained a reputation as a talented portraitist and was commissioned to paint portraits of many members of the Spanish royal family, including King Ferdinand VII and his wife, Queen Maria Christina. He also painted portraits of many other notable figures of the time, including politicians, military leaders and artists. Lopez Portana's style was characterised by his ability to capture the likeness and personality of his subjects with great accuracy and attention to detail. He was known for his skilful use of light and shadow, which gave his portraits a sense of depth and realism. In addition to portraits, Lopez Portana also painted historical and religious scenes, as well as landscapes and still lifes. He was a member of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando and received numerous awards and honours throughout his career. Lopez Portana died in Madrid in 1850 at the age of 78. Today his paintings can be found in museums and private collections around the world, and he is considered one of the greatest portrait painters of his time.