Eduardo Leon Garrido

Born in Madrid, Garrido was the son of politician and amateur painter, Fernando Garrido Tortosa. He studied under Federigo de Madrazo and Vincente Palmaroli. It would be the former who would encourage Garrido to visit Paris, and the latter who would travel, first to Rome and then to Paris, with him. In fact, it is Federigo de Madrazo, the second of four generations from this influential artistic family to visit, study or live in Paris, who is largely responsible for giving direction to Garrido’s art. Federigo, furnished with excellent connections in Paris, was able to direct and assist Garrido during his time abroad.

In 1875, the year he debuted at the Paris Salon, Garrido won a grant from the Madrid Provincial Government to continue his studies in Paris and he entered the studio of Raimundo de Madrazo, who converted Garrido into a master of pompier art. Garrido’s gallant scenes brought him financial success and popularity. His ballroom scenes set the fashionable fetes gallantes of the Belle Époque against backgrounds of the 18th century rococo palaces, such as Versailles and Fontainbleau, that he would sketch on location.