Spanish painter Manuel Alcorlo dies at 89

Manuel Alcorlo, a Spanish painter, draftsman, and engraver, died at age 89. Born in Madrid in 1935, he studied at the Escuela de Artes y Oficios de Marqués de Cubas, the Escuela de Cerámica de la Moncloa, the Círculo de Bellas Artes, and the Escuela Superior de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (from 1953). His early circle included Isabel Quintanilla and Eduardo Sanz. In 1957, his painting 'La cepa' won recognition at the Exposición Nacional. From 1960 to 1964, he lived in Rome on a scholarship from the Academia de España en Roma, where he befriended Rafael Moneo. His figurative style, influenced by Goya, Quevedo, and Larra, was noted for its satirical yet compassionate view. He illustrated works by Cervantes, Quevedo, Voltaire, Valle-Inclán, Tagore, Boris Vian, and Collodi. A violinist, he was friends with composers Antón García Abril and Joan Guinjoan. In 1998, he entered the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando with the speech 'Variaciones peripatéticas con Quevedo al fondo.' He was married to painter Carmen Pagés and exhibited at Galería Macarrón, Galería Theo, Galería Biosca, and Galería Tórculo, as well as at Fundación Mapfre, Biblioteca Nacional de España, and Calcografía Nacional. In 2020, the Real Academia de San Fernando held a retrospective 'Universo Alcorlo.' He had just completed illustrations for the Teatro Real's upcoming season, saying 'Mis dibujos escucharán música.'