Artwork
Gesalico
Gesalico is an oil painting by Patricio Patiño. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Gesalico is an oil painting created by Patricio Patiño in 1855, currently housed at the Museo del Prado.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a man in formal, ceremonial attire—a red and gold robe with a matching headband—standing before a dark green curtain. His pose, holding an unidentified small object in his right hand, suggests a moment of significance or ritual, though the specific context or subject's identity (Gesalico) remains unclear without further historical detail.
Technique & Style
Patiño employed rich, vibrant colors and textured brushwork to add depth to the composition, emphasizing the luxury of the subject's garments and the backdrop.
History & Provenance
Created in 1855 by Patricio Patiño, the painting's ownership history prior to its acquisition by the Museo del Prado is not detailed here.
Context
While specific contextual details about the painting's creation are scarce, it reflects 19th-century artistic tendencies in portraitures of formal subjects, with Patiño's use of color and texture characteristic of the period's emphasis on visual opulence.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Spanish painter Patricio Patiño left only one confirmed oil painting from 1855, but it’s a rare window into mid-19th-century Madrid.
