Portal de Cartagena
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| 'Reposo', a work that shows the portrait of an unknown woman, had been erroneously attributed to the painter Rafael García de la España | The Municipal Restoration Workshop has discovered among the municipal funds a painting by the painter Portela that, for more than five decades, had been attributed to the painter Rafael García de la Espada (Hispaleto).This discovery has occurred during the removal of a non-original color layer from the work, called 'Reposo', which represents the portrait of an unknown woman.Thus, as Isidro Pérez, City Council Restoration technician explained, in this process, which lasted approximately one month, the signature of the author was recovered, which remained intact and, after a comparative study with other works by Francisco Portela de la Llera belonging to the Municipal Gallery, its true authorship has been certified.During the presentation of the restoration of this painting, the Delegate Councilor for Culture, Carlos Piñana, stressed the need to preserve our past, since it "enriches us as a society and as people." According to the mayor, "the discovery of an unknown painting by the Painter Portela shows us the importance of allocating resources to the protection of our heritage, since it is a piece that helps to complete the puzzle that makes up the history of Cartagena."Another peculiarity of this oil on cardboard is the origin of the support, since it is the reuse of a box that, according to the seal that appears composed of the rod of Aesculapius crossed with an anchor, indicates its possible belonging to the Marine Pharmacy corps.
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It thus became an example of recycling in the last century.A GADITANO WITH A CARTAGENERA SOULFrancisco de Paula Portela de la Llera was born on November 29, 1869 in Puerto Real (Cádiz), but he can be considered from Cartagena, because since he was thirteen years old he has been living continuously in the port city.
His father was a captain in the merchant navy.
Since he was a teenager he studied drawing in the classes of the Economic Society of Friends of the Country of Cartagena, of which he was later a teacher.
He died in Cartagena in 1950.If in Murcia Sánchez Picazo is the painter of flowers, in Cartagena Portela is the painter of the Navy.
This has undoubtedly been his favorite subject, and in his paintings he has captured the beautiful line of modern ships, as well as that of the glorious wooden squads that heroically succumbed in Santiago and Cavite.
Sometimes, and within the strictest realism, he also brought to his paintings the theme of shipyards, the Albufera Valenciana and others with peace ships.His painting, with a non-marine theme, is that of the "Coronation of the Virgin of Charity".
Except for her later years, Portela's entire life was dedicated to teaching.
It can be said that his studio and that of Vicente Ros were the only initiation academies to painting that young people could enter in Cartagena.
Portela was preparing to enter the military academies.
He served as a professor at the Schools of Industries (elementary and higher) and at the School of Commerce.As an artist, he exhibited in Murcia, Cartagena and Madrid (Athena Hall and prints room of the Museum of Modern Art).
High authorities from the Navy attended the inauguration of these exhibitions in Madrid, as well as representations of artists from Valencia and Madrid.
Portela also exhibited, and this is the last of his exhibitions, in the Delegation of Culture of the High Commissioner of Morocco in Tetouan in which homage was paid to the painter, offered by Admiral Bastarreche.The Melilla City Council acquired his painting "El convoy de la victoria", the initial theme of the Spanish struggle.In Cartagena there are paintings by Portela, with a non-marine theme, in the Iglesia del Carmen "Los Cuatro Evangelistas" and the "Virgen del Perpetuo Socorro"; in the chapel of the Captaincy General of the Maritime Department, the "Four saints of Cartagena"; and in the Artillery Park, the portraits of Daoíz and Velarde.
There are also paintings in the funds of the Municipal Gallery of Cartagena, as well as many others in other entities and in the possession of individuals.
Source: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena
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