Person
Benlliure Gil, Mariano (1862-1947)Other forms
València (España) 1862-09-08 - Madrid (España) 1947-11-09
Spanish sculptor, son of painter and decorator Juan Antonio Benlliure Tomás (1832-1906) and Angela Gil Campos (1829-1907), and brother of painters Blas, José y Juan Antonio. He was a self-taught person. In 1881, he went to Rome, where he settled and worked for 20 years. In 1896, he moved to Madrid, though he maintained his studio in Rome for some time. He built a house-studio for himself in Abascal street in Madrid.
He had important civil posts related to culture and Fine Arts:
-Between 1901 and 1903, he was Director of the Spanish Academy in Rome.
-Since 1917 until 1919, he was Director General of Fine Arts of the "Ministerio de Instrucción Pública".
-Since 1917 until 1931, he was Director of the Museum of Modern Art of Madrid, currently included within the Prado Muesum.
He was member of several Fine Arts Academies: San Fernando in Madrid, San Carlos in Valencia, San Telmo in Málaga, San Lucas in Rome, Brera in Milan, Carrara and París. He was awarded with important prizes like the Legion of Honor of France, the Order of the Crown of Italy, and the Grand Cross of Alfonso X of Spain.
El archivo documental de Mariano Benlliure se custodia en la sede de la Fundación Mariano Benlliure en Madrid.