Vidal Gonzalez Arenal [1859-1925]
Spain
The matador’s victory celebration, Rome [La celebración de la victoria del matador, Roma], 1897
Oil on board
14 x 20 inches
Signed and dated at lower left on bench in image : ‘Vidal G. / Roma 97’.

Vidal Gonzalez Arenal (1859-1925) biography:

Birth: 1859 in Vitigudino (Western Spain), Spain ;
Death: May 1, 1925 in Madrid, Spain of gastric issues ;
Sex: Male ;
Ethnicity: Hispanic ; 
Zodiac: [unknown] ;

Known for: Genre painting ; portrait painting ; copies of Old Masters ; religious painting ;
Medium: Oil ;
Technique: Painting ;
Subjects: Everyday scenes of life ; people ; birth ; marriage ; death ; rural customs ; crafts ; chores ; provincial dress and fashion ;

Areas: Vitigudino (Western Spain), Spain ; Guadramiro, Spain ; Madrid, Spain (1886-1891) ; Salanacan, Spain (1892-1925) ; Rome, Italy (1891) ; Florence, Italy ; Venice, Italy ; Paris, France ;
Region: Europe ;
Lived: Vitigudino (Western Spain), Spain ; Guadramiro, Spain ; Madrid, Spain (1886-1891) ; Rome, Italy (1891) ; Florence, Italy ; Venice, Italy ; Paris, France ;
Father:
Mother: 
Relatives: Sofia Arenal (?-?), sister, took care of him after his parents died ; Maria Arenal (?-?), sister, took care of him after his parents died ;
Spouse:
Children: 

Training: Escuela de Bellas Artes de San Eloy, Salamanca, Spain, on scholarship (ca.1870s) ; La Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (RABASF) [School of painting, sculpture and engraving], Madrid, Spain, scholarship granted by the he Salamanca city government (1886-1890) ;
Instructors:
Work: Made copies of old master paintings within the Museums of Spain, including the Prado (ca.1880s) for the Salamanca city government to pay back his scholarship ; Sold works in New York, NY (ca.1890s-1900s) ; Vienna, Austria, Paris, France, St. Petersburg, Russia ;

Taught: Círculo Católico de Trabajadores [Catholic Circle of Workers] , Salamanca, Spain (1901) ; Colegio de San Eloy [School of San Eloy], Spain, professor of figure drawing and painting (1905) ; Escuela de Bellas Artes de San Eloy, Salamanca, Spain (1906-1907) ;
Students:

Member:
Exhibited with: Exhibition of Fine Arts, Madrid, Spain (1895) ; Escuela de Bellas Artes de San Eloy, Salamanca, Spain (1896) ; Exposición regional de Bellas Artes e Industrias Artísticas [Regional exhibition of Fine Arts and Artistic Industries], Ciudad Rodrigo, Spain (1900) ;
Awards: Exhibition of Fine Arts, Madrid, Spain, 2nd-place medal, The deposition of Christ (1895) ; Escuela de Bellas Artes de San Eloy, Salamanca, Spain, medal, Miracle of St. Nicholas (1896) ; Exposición regional de Bellas Artes e Industrias Artísticas [Regional exhibition of Fine Arts and Artistic Industries], Ciudad Rodrigo, Spain (1900) ;

Milestones: In 1865 lost both his parents at age 8 and was raised by his 5 siblings; Was interested in art early on to help deal with the loss of his parents ;