Richard Ansdell RA

(British, 1815-1885)

Spanish Posada, Granada

Footnotes

Provenance
with Thomas Agnew & Sons, London
Private collection, UK

Exhibited
London, Royal Academy, 1866, no.431

This wonderfully exuberant painting illustrates what an impact the artist's two visits to Spain must have had. It is also an example of why it was so fashionable for Victorians to make the trip. Richard Ansdell first visited Spain in 1856 accompanied by John "Spanish" Phillip RA (1817-1867). They travelled around the Granada area by horseback avidly painting what they saw under the bright Spanish sun; an exotic way of life that must have seemed a world away from Victorian Britain.

This is a scene set within the walls of the Alhambra Palace in a farm building on the side where the peasants would have taken their animals for rest and water. The celebrations of the Posada are well under way with guitars ringing out, bread and wine on the table and smiling faces. The tools of toil are put aside for a moment's celebration while the mules wait patiently in their elaborate fly-detracting halters - (Ansdell brought some bridles, scarves and pots home from Spain to use as props in just such a painting as this). Amongst all the festivity, the daily routine continues with the herdsman and his flock nonchalantly going on their way under the arch.

This is a remarkable painting as it is very rare that people, not animals, take centre stage It is a fine example of Ansdell's confidence growing along with his highly successful career. At this time he was striving for the heights, becoming an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1861 and a full Academian in 1870.

We are grateful to Sarah Kellam (née Ansdell) for her assistance in cataloguing this lot. www.richardansdell.co.uk