PRADILLA, Francisco, fran-thes'k6 pri del-yfi, Spanish painter: b. Villanueva de Gal lego, in the province of Saragossa. 24 July 1848. His parents were very poor, and the young Pradilla, who early in his youth showed a re markable gift for drawing, had to undergo a hard struggle before he could find the ways and means to devote himself to the develop ment of this gift. In 1863 he came to Madrid where he devoted himself zealously to the study of the old masters and became a pupil of Serri. Before long he was sent to the Spanish Academy of Fine Arts at Rome, of which he was one of the first pupils. His first signal achievement was Rape of the ; this was followed in 1878 by 'Joanna the Mad, following the Coffin of Philip the Fair, her Husband.' The latter was exhibited at the World's Exposition at Paris in the same year, where it created quite a sensation and was awarded a medal. It is now in the Prado at Madrid. His next important work was 'The Surrender of Granada to Ferdinand and Isa bella,' a picture remarkable for spirited de lineation of character, lifelike action and grandeur of style. It was awarded a first medal
at the exposition in Munich (1883) and may now he seen in the Senate Hall in Madrid. Still another picture of the same type is the Sigh of the Moor.' In addition to these large canvasses he has produced many small genre pictures. Most of these illustrate mod ern life, especially amongst the peasants, and show keen observation, subtle power of indi vidualization and a remarkable genius for real ism. These small canvasses are masterpieces of their kind and have won for him an inter national reputation. The best known amongst them are Mass in the Pilgrims' Chapel at Guia? (1891) ; 'Marker Day at Vigo' (1892), and to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Counsel) (1895). He has also painted some mural decorations of great beauty in the Murgo Palace in Madrid. In 1892 he was made a member of the Berlin Academy and in 1896 he became director of the Royal Museum in Madrid.