Orientalist Oil Painting – "The Slipper Merchant" – After José Villegas Cordero – 60x50 cm

This magnificent oil painting on panel is a masterful interpretation of the famous work "El mercader de zapatillas" (1872) by the Spanish grand master José Villegas Cordero.

Craftsmanship by Ángel Simarro

The Spanish artist Ángel Simarro has focused on the most introspective part of the original in this work. We see a character in a moment of rest, enjoying a long pipe, surrounded by a wealth of artisanal textures. Simarro demonstrates exceptional talent here for rendering different materials: from the gleam of copper plates to the soft fibers of the hand-knotted alfombras.

Light, Color, and Texture

Technically, this painting is a masterpiece. The light from the left creates an almost sculptural volume and deep shadows. The color palette is exuberant, with intense reds, gold, and emerald green beautifully contrasting with the warm earth tones of the surroundings. The alternation between meticulous details and pasty, vibrant brushstrokes (as in the smoke from the pipe) gives the work a unique dynamic.

A refined piece for collectors of Orientalist art and classical realism.