Manolete Matador

This portrait captures Manuel Laureano Rodríguez Sánchez, known simply as Manolete, one of the most iconic and revered bullfighters in history. His slender figure, solemn gaze, and signature style left an indelible mark on the art of bullfighting. Known for his gravity, elegance, and almost tragic intensity in the ring, Manolete became a symbol of post-war Spain—both admired and mourned.
The matador is shown here wearing the same pink and silver suit (traje de luces) he wore on August 28, 1947, in the bullring of Linares. That day, during a fateful encounter with the Miura bull Islero, Manolete delivered his final faena. Though he killed the bull, he was fatally gored in the femoral artery during the exchange. He died in the early hours of the following day, at only 30 years old.
This suit, now forever associated with his death, has become a visual relic—a haunting reminder of the fine line between glory and tragedy that defines the matador's world.
 
300 x 200 cm
oil on canvas
2023