The Manuel Benedito Foundation presented the reasoned catalogue of the Valencian painter at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, closing the events of the 150th anniversary of his birth. The work, prepared by Pascual Masiá, brings together nearly 2,000 pieces in two volumes: 964 oil paintings and 996 works on paper. A legacy from a disciple of Sorolla that will serve as a reference for researchers and collectors.
Two volumes that organize the painter's creative chaos 🎨
The catalogue not only lists, but systematizes Benedito's production with technical criteria. The first volume classifies the 964 oil paintings by chronology, support, and state of conservation. The second details 996 works on paper, from pastels to charcoals, with records that include dimensions, technique, and provenance. Masiá has used digital documentation tools to cross-reference historical data, allowing collectors to verify authenticity without relying on memory or an expert eye.
For collectors who don't trust even their own shadow 🔍
If you have a Benedito hanging in your living room and suspect the signature was made by your brother-in-law with a charcoal stick, this catalogue is your salvation. Masiá has done the dirty work: tracking down archives, comparing brushstrokes, and confirming that grandpa didn't paint as well as he thought. Now, dealers will have to find another excuse to raise prices. Meanwhile, the rest of us can admire the nearly 2,000 works without fear of being sold a fake.