José Fernández Alvarado

Born in Málaga on September 23, 1856. At the age of nine, he enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts of Málaga, where he studied under prominent artists such as Muñoz Degrain and José Moreno Carbonero.

He participated in the Vatican Exhibition of 1888, where he was awarded a gold medal. In 1892, he received an honorable mention for “Costas de Málaga”, and in the 1895 National Exhibition he won a second medal for “Sudeste” (P006249). The Infanta Isabel acquired his painting “Mar de Levante”, a purchase that marked a turning point in his career, leading him to focus on landscape and seascape painting.

He was a member of the Fine Arts section of the Liceo of Málaga, alongside his former teacher at the Academy, Bernardo Ferrándiz. At the 1897 National Exhibition, he earned another second medal for “Nuevo peligro” (P007434).

In 1901, he was appointed Drawing Professor at the secondary school in Baeza, although he spent a year teaching in Logroño. From 1913 to 1919, he resided in Úbeda before finally settling in Huelva. There, at the age of 45, he was awarded the Chair of Drawing at the Secondary Education Institute of Huelva. He was named Knight of the Grand Cross of Alfonso XII and appointed director of the Museum of Fine Arts. He also served as director of the Official Academy of Painting, where he taught Antique Drawing and Colour Theory.

His interests extended beyond painting: he collected archaeological pieces and artworks by international masters such as Dürer, Goya, Ribera, and Tiepolo. He also held various public posts, including president of the Provincial Commission of Historical and Artistic Monuments of Huelva. In 1920, he was appointed corresponding member of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, and later, of the Royal Academy of San Telmo in Málaga.

In 1930, he received a silver medal at the Ibero-American Exposition in Seville. That same year, he participated in the National Exhibition of Fine Arts with “Mar gruesa”, and exhibited “De vuelta a la pesca” at the Tenth Autumn Salon.

He painted his self-portrait on the ceiling of the Liceo Hall of the Friendship Circle in Córdoba, where he also executed five large-scale paintings of artistic allegories.

Shortly before his death, he was awarded the Second Class Red Cross Medal. He passed away in Huelva on February 3, 1935.