Don Mariano Benlliure Y Gil 

José Garnelo painted this portrait of Don Mariano Benlliure Y Gil with oil on canvas. Garnelo, who lived through a tumultuous period in Spanish history, including the loss of its colonies and internal political strife, was known for his history paintings and portraits of notable figures. In this piece, we see Benlliure holding a glass, seemingly frozen in a moment of contemplation or perhaps melancholy. The muted tones and the subject's somber expression evoke a sense of quiet introspection. It makes me wonder what thoughts occupy his mind. What does this moment say about masculinity and the performance of identity? Does the painting subtly critique the established social order of the time, or does it reinforce it? Through this intimate portrayal, Garnelo invites us to consider the weight of history, and the personal stories that are woven into the fabric of a nation.