'Manolo Gonzalez' by John Fulton, Plaza De Toros, Maestranza, Seville, Bullfighting, Matador

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Signed lower left, 'John Fulton' (American, 1933-1998) and painted circa 1995.

The original oil painting for the poster advertising the … Read more Signed lower left, 'John Fulton' (American, 1933-1998) and painted circa 1995.

The original oil painting for the poster advertising the appearance of Manolo Gonzalez at the prestigious Maestranza bullring in Seville and showing famous bullfighter in an emerald suit of lights, holding his espada at the ready while deflecting the enraged bull with his red cape.

John Fulton was an American bullfighter and painter who settled in Seville. Born in Philadelphia, he received a scholarship to an art school in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, in the early 1950s. During this time, he studied both painting and bullfighting, killing his first calf there in 1953. In 1954, Fulton joined the U.S. Army and continued and continued painting and bullfighting on his downtime. After his release in 1956, he moved to Spain where he studied bullfighting under Juan Belmonte and performed as a novillero (novice) with some of Spain’s leading matadors. In July 1963, Fulton was sponsored by José María Montilla to take his 'alternativa' at the Plaza de toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla, pictured in the posted above and was confirmed in Madrid with the title 'Matador de Toros' in 1967. He is one of only two Americans to receive this honor. He shared posters with well-known figures such as El Cordobés, Antonio Ordóñez and Pepe Luis Vázquez. After retiring in 1994, he devoted himself fully to painting. Fulton exhibited his paintings at the Instituto Allende and at Galeria Izamal.

Image of the artist is courtesy of Galeria Izamal See less