José Gutiérrez de la Vega

[1] Neither was immediately successful, but he and his family settled there permanently the following year, when he was named an "Academician of Merit" for his painting "The Last Communion of San Fernando".

Some of his best-known large-scale portraits came from this time; including ones of Queen Isabel and Mariano José de Larra.

Religious works were also a significant part of his output; notably portraits of Saints Justa and Rufina, a Virgin with Child and an allegory on the New Testament, all of which reflected his first influence, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo.

In 1845, despite maintaining a voluminous correspondence with the Director of the Seville Academy, and working on his behalf at the Royal Court, he was forced to resign his position there, due to complaints about his continued absence.

Several projects were left unfinished, and he gave up hope of achieving an official appointment as court painter.